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V 


W.  POPE    YEAMAN,   D.  D.,   LL.   D. 

This  Portrait  of  the  Author  is  inserted  by  the  publishers  at  the  repeated 
and  urgent  requests  of  the  friends  and  patrons  of  the  book. 


A  HISTORY 


OF    THE 


Missouri  Baptist  General  Association 


BY 

W.  POPE  YEAMAN,  S.  T.  D. 


[Published  by  request  and  authority  of  the  General 
Association  of  Missouri  Baptists.] 


COLUMBIA,  MO.: 
PRESS  OF  E.  W.  STEPHENS. 


Co 

ox.  (£.  (Elliott, 

3.  (£.  maple,  D.  D., 

3.  €.  m.  3oI}n5ton,  D,  D., 

Q^tjc  dommittce  of  publication, 

« 

Cini>  tl^rouglj  tl|cm  to  ttje  Baptist  Brotl^erlioo!)  anb 

Sisterboob  of  Illtssourt,  tl^ts  oolumc  is 

affccttonately  bebicatcb  by 

« 

3I?c  CtutI)or. 


CONTENTS   BY   CHAPTERS, 

I.  The  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

II.  The  Territorial  Period. 

III.  Beginning  of  General  Association. 

IV.  Completing  the  Organization. 
V.  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

VI.  A  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

VII.  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

VIII.  War  Decade. 

IX.  Emerging  from  Darkness. 

X.  A  Crisis. 

XL  A  Jubilee. 

XII.  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

XIII.  Agencies  and  Agents. 

XIV.  Associational  Endowments. 
XV.  Sabbath  School  Mission  Work. 

XVI.  Centers  of  Population. 

XVII.  The  Press. 

XVIII.  Auxiliaries  and  Unification. 

XIX.  Education. 

XX.  Woman's  Work. 

XXI.  A  Convenient  Summary. 


INTRODUCTION. 

BY  J.   C.   MAPLE,  D.  D. 

Yielding  to  the  request  of  the  author  of  the  History 
of  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association,  I  have 
written  a  brief  introduction.  In  consenting  to  do  so  I 
claim  the  privilege  of  speaking  freely  about 

THE   AUTHOR. 

An  intimate  acquaintance  of  over  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury has  prepared  me  to  speak  of  him  from  personal 
knowledge  as  well  as  from  the  record  his  work  has 
made. 

There  are  lines  written  deeper  in  humanity  than 
those  recorded  by  the  pen.  And  Dr.  Yeaman  has  by 
a  long  and  useful  life  written  his  name  by  works  of 
righteousness  and  his  service  of  love  upon  the  hearts 
of  the  people  to  whom  he  has  been  closely  allied  and 
with  whom  he  has  ever  been  in  brain  and  heart  in 
thorough  sympathy. 

But  it  is  of  the  work  of  the  author  in  Missouri  that 
I  wish  here  to  write. 

Almost  from  the  very  hour  of  his  settlement  in  St. 
Louis,  in  March,  i87o,  he  became  completely  absorbed 
in  the  Baptist  interests  in  the  whole  state. 

The  people  had  not  yet  wholly  recovered  from  the 
shock  of  the  civil  war.  Wasted  homes  had  not  been 
rebuilt,  or  if  built,  were  not  replenished  after  the  four 
years  of  destruction.  Yet  christian  men  and  women 
were  all  awake  to  the  fact  that  there  was  dawning  upon 
Missouri  an  era  of  prosperity  that  would  result  in  the 
development  of  her  great  resources,  and  therefore  in 
an  immense  increase  of  her  population. 

V 


VI         ♦  Introduction. 

There  were  strong  men  in  the  pulpits  and  in  the 
pews  of  the  many  Baptist  churches  in  the  state.  In 
numbers,  in  talent,  in  wealth  and  in  educational  insti- 
tutions the  Baptists  were  in  the  lead.  There  were  many 
and  pressing  calls  therefore  for  the  man  who  could, 
whether  upon  the  platform  or  in  the  pulpit,  so  present 
the  principles  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  that  honor  should 
come  to  the  people  he  represented. 

From  the  very  beginning  of  his  work  in  Missouri, 
Dr.  Yeaman  became  a  leading  spirit  in  the  general  de- 
nominational work  and  a  prominent  member  of  the 
General  Association.  Circumstances  soon  placed  him 
in  the  front  as  the  leader,  in  connection  with  all  de- 
partments of  the  work.  He  became  proprietor  of  the 
Central  Baptist,  then  chancellor  of  the  college  (William 
Jewell)  and  moderator  of  the  General  Association,  and 
then  secretary  and  manager  of  state  missions. 

Upon  other  men  single  honors  and  responsibilities 
were  thrust  by  the  people  of  like  faith,  but  upon  him 
there  must  usually  be  placed  double  responsibilities; 
and  sometimes  triple,  and  occasionally  quadruple 
offices,  all  of  which  required  great  labor,  constant 
thought  and  carried  with  them  weighty  responsibili- 
ties. As  in  the  year  i876,  when  he  was  pastor  of  a 
leading  church,  editor  of  the  Central  _ Baptist,  chancel- 
lor of  the  college  and  with  the  latter  was  included  the 
leadership  of  the  effort  to  raise  the  centennial  fund  for 
the  endowment  of  our  colleges. 

That  the  author  was  well  fitted  to  write  this  history 
will  be  seen  when  we  remember  that  for  twenty  consec- 
utive years  he  was  our  presiding  officer.  The  appoint- 
ment of  the  committees  that  prepared  the  work  for 
each  succeeding  session  was  in  his  hands.  And  while 
he  was  always  fair  and  honorable  in  the  distribution  of 
these  committees,  and  saw  that  every  part  of  the  state, 
and  all  the  interests  of  the  denomination  were  repre- 
sented, yet  he  did,  in  the  selection  of  the  members  of 


Introduction.  vii 

these  committees,  to  a  very  large  degree,  give  direction 
to  all  departments  of  the  work.  There  was  no  time 
when  better  work  was  done  for  Missouri  Baptists  than 
when,  in  control  of  the  Central  Baptist,  Dr.  Yeaman 
was  in  communication  with  the  whole  denomination  in 
the  state. 

This  journal,  from  the  first  number  issued  at  Pal- 
myra to  the  present  date,  has  been  the  faithful  friend 
and  uncomplaining  servant  of  our  General  Associa- 
tion. And  I  am  glad  that  I  can  truthfully  add,  that  all 
that  is  here  said  of  Dr.  Yeaman  in  connection  with  the 
paper  is  equally  true  of  every  editor  from  Dr.  J.  H. 
Luther  to  Dr.  J.  C.  Armstrong. 

In  the  work  of  the  pastorate,  whether  as  metro- 
politan, or  rural  bishop,  the  same  unvarying  devotion, 
to  the  Baptist  churches,  to  missions  and  the  missiona- 
ries was  manifested. 

When  through  various  inexplicable  circumstances, 
the  work  of  state  missions  was  wholly  paralyzed.  Dr. 
Yeaman  was  called  to  take  the  lead  in  the  resuscitation 
of  this  almost  lifeless  cause,  he  made  a  thorough  study 
of  the  entire  state.  He  did  not  visit  every  "nook  and 
corner,"  but  he  came  so  near  doing  so  that  he  almost 
sacrificed  his  life  by  incessant  and  unrelaxed  labors.  As 
corresponding  secretary  and  financial  agent  of  the 
Board  of  State  Missions,  he  toiled  with  unceasing  ef- 
fort for  eight  years,  and  at  the  same  time  was  the  pre- 
siding officer  at  all  the  sessions  of  the  General  Associ- 
ation. He  was  therefore  required  to  exercise  a  double 
watchfulness  over  every  minute  of  the  work.  And 
now  having  for  several  years  given  himself  to  the  care- 
ful study  of  the  whole  field  of  Baptist  history  in  our 
commonwealth ;  having  had  better  opportunities  of  be- 
ing, in  every  way  familiar  with  the  field  and  the  work- 
ers, than  any  one  who  now  lives,  or  who  has  ever  lived, 
he  gives  to  us  this  history  of  the  Missoui  Baptist  Gen- 
eral Association. 


VIII  Introduction. 

THE  VALUE  OF  SUCH   A  HISTORY. 

It  was  a  great  gift  from  God  when  it  was  put  into 
the  brain  and  heart  of  Rev.  R.  S.  Duncan  to  collect 
and  arrange  such  a  vast  amount  of  information  as  his 
History  of  Missouri  Baptists  contains.  In  fact  from 
the  planting  of  that  first  church,  in  1806,  up  to  the  pres- 
ent date,  the  gracious  Lord  has  wonderfully  blessed 
and  greatly  prospered  His  people.  Christian  men  and 
women  should  be  just  as  appreciative  of  the  labors  of 
those  who  give  their  lives  to  the  service  of  humanity  as 
other  people. 

We  take  great  care  to  preserve  the  memory  of  our 
great  men,  whether  sailors,  soldiers  or  statesmen.  But 
we  know  that  no  class  of  people  serve  so  well  their  own 
generation,  or  do  such  marked  service  for  the  coming 
ages  as  those  who  establish  men  and  women  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  honesty,  sobriety  and  general  morality. 

It  may  be  true  that  those  who  are  themselves  the 
principal  factors  in  great  movements,  are  not  so  compe- 
tent to  elaborate  the  philosophy  of  the  events  of  which 
they  are  a  part,  as  after  generations.  Those  who  come 
after  us  will  have  both  the  past  and  the  results  of  our 
labors  to  guide  them ;  but  without  a  record  of  the  facts 
by  those  who  are  themselves  "eye  witnesses"  the  next 
generation  would  be  totally  ignorant  of  how  their  en- 
vironment was  created. 

It  must  be  conceded  by  all  thoughtful  persons  that 
the  actors  themselves  know  more  of  what  they  are  do- 
ing and  have  done,  and  why  they  have  so  lived  and 
labored,  than  any  other  persons  can  attain  to  know.  It 
may  be  that  many  of  us  have  not  the  moral  courage, 
nor  the  downright  honesty,  to  faithfully  lay  open  to 
view  our  own  motives,  but  we  do  know  the  facts  and 
we  are  fortunate  in  having  with  us  those  who  possess 
the  ability  to  clearly  state  these  facts.  Coming  gener- 
ations will,  of  course,  regard  all  records  that  this  age 


Introduction.  ix 

may  make,  as  simply  the  stone  quarry,  out  of  which 
they  can  blast  the  materials  for  their  own  palaces  and 
temples.  Yet  we  should  so  far  imitate  nature  that  we 
shall  lay  down  for  them,  in  regular  strata,  the  accumu- 
lation of  all  our  forces,  that  out  of  these  materials  they 
mav  build  something  that  will  be  more  permanent  and 
more  beautiful  than  anything  we  were  able  to  construct. 

The  value  therefore  of  a  history,  written  by  one 
who  has  made  a  thorough  study  of  some  one  depart- 
ment of  christian  effort,  and  who  has  taken  a  leading 
part  in  shaping,  and  making  effective  that  work  can 
scarcely  be  over  estimated. 

For  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  century,  now  draw- 
ing so  nearly  to  a  close,  the  author  of  this  history  has 
been  the  master  spirit  in  all  the  affairs  connected  with 
the  General  Association.  There  can  be  no  contro- 
versy as  to  the  facts  narrated  in  this  book. 

The  earlier  periods  of  the  history  are  given  as  re- 
corded in  the  printed  proceedings  of  the  various  meet- 
ings. Here  will  be  found  a  plain  statement  of  what 
was  done,  and  what  plans  were  devised  to  advance  the 
cause  in  hand. 

And  here  the  fact  is  made  plain  to  us,  that  we  who 

are  yet  alive  and  are  doing  even  a  very  little  to  extend 

the  reign  of  the  Christ  in  Missouri,  are  only  building 

^upon  the  foundation  laid  by  good  men,  and  men  that 

deserve  to  be  called  great. 

Had  we  all  behaved  ourselves  as  well  as  did  our 
fathers,  we  could  have  accomplished  much  more. 

There  is  much  that  can  be  taken  as  the  warnings 
of  providence  in  our  history. 

There  was  among  the  Twelve  Apostles  a  spirit 
that  often  asked  "who  shall  be  greatest."  And,  there 
have  been  times  when  the  work  was  hindered  by  some 
"croppings  out"  of  this  same  spirit. 

But  we  are  learning,  and  I  feel  sure,  will  come 
more  and  more  to  realize  that  the  Great  Teacher  gave 


X  Introduction. 

us  the  true  philosophy  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  when 
he  said :  "He  that  would  be  greatest  among  you  let 
him  be  servant  of  all."  And  we  have  now  and  have 
always  had  among  us  those  who  loved  the  work  of 
Christ,  so  sincerely,  that  the  thought  of  the  honor 
that  may  accrue  to  them  is  forgotten  in  their  absorp- 
tion in  the  love  of  Jesus  and  the  truth. 

And  should  this  history,  written  by  our  brother, 
help  men  and  women  in  acquiring  an  abiding  love  for 
the  work  of  "extending  the  kingdom  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  especially  in  this  state,"  then  the  prayer  of  the 
author  will  have  been  answered  in  its  behalf  and  it  will 
be  what  he  desires  most  of  all,  his  best  contribution  to 
the  interests  of  Missouri  Baptists. 

THE  TIMELINESS   OF  THE   WORK. 

There  will  be  only  two  more  meetings  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  before  we  enter  upon  the  twentieth 
century  of  the  christian  era. 

It  is  a  matter  of  profound  thankfulness  on  the  part 
of  all  who  are  in  sympathy  with  Christianity  that  we 
have  such  a  large  number  of  young  men,  who  are,  in 
piety,  in  culture,  and  in  consecration  of  heart  and  love 
of  the  truth,  so  well  equipped  to  carry  forward  the  work 
in  our  great  state. 

To  all  these  workers  it  is  a  great  favor  that  they. 
have  a  complete  and  reliable  history  of  their  own  people 
brought  down  to  their  own  times.  They  will  begin  the 
work  of  the  next  century  with  a  full  knowledge  of  what 
it  has  cost  to  lay  this  great  foundation  upon  which  a 
grand  and  magnificent  structure  must  be  built  that  it 
may  be  in  harmony  with  what  has  been  done. 

As  the  foundation  has  been  laid  in  prayer  and  ce- 
mented with  the  toils  and  tears  of  the  great  and  good 
men  who  have  passed  on  to  the  great  reward,  so  they 
will  build,  and  so  God's  blessings  will  give  them  the 
increase. 


Introduction.  xi 

But  we  must  insist  upon  the  thought  that  only  a 
beginning  has  been  made.  The  colleges  will  need 
greatly  increased  endowments.  The  number  of  mis- 
sionaries must  be  increased.  Houses  of  worship  must 
be  built  in  places  where  now  the  people  of  the  Lord  have 
no  home.  In  the  larger  cities  the  number  of  churches 
must  be  greatly  multiplied.  In  many  of  the  smaller 
places  new  and  better  houses  must  be  erected,  while 
new  towns  and  cities  will  continue  to  multiply  until  in 
coming  ages  the  great  state  will  be  almost  one  grand 
manufacturing  center  for  all  things  useful  among  civil- 
ized communities,  and  every  acre  of  our  rich  soil  will  be 
made  to  do  its  best  to  bring  forth  abundant  crops  for 
the  support  and  comfort  of  the  great  population  that 
will  here  find  homes. 

Before  the  close  of  the  next  century  the  population 
of  Missouri  will  be  so  great  that  we  are  afraid  to  hint 
at  its  numbers  lest  we  be  regarded  as  over  enthusiastic 
as  to  the  possibility  of  the  state. 

And  no  matter  who  comes,  nor  from  what  portion 
of  the  earth  they  come  they  will  be  just  as  needy  as 
those  who  came  before.  The  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
must  be  preached  to  them  and  they  must  be  persuaded 
to  embrace  our  holy  religion  or  they  will  endanger  our 
great  heritage.  There  can  be  no  end  to  this  work  until 
the  Lord  comes  again.  Rather  will  there  be  an  in- 
creased demand  for  more  and  better  work,  because  the 
possibilities  of  greatly  increased  usefulness  will  be 
given. 

The  scriptures  that  have  been  the  support  and 
strength  of  the  former  laborers  will  be  just  as  sweet 
and  just  as  full  of  encouragement  a  thousand  years 
hence  as  they  have  been  in  all  the  past. 

"Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away ;  but  my  words 
shall  not  pass  away."     Luke  21 :33. 

"But  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever." 
I  Pet.  1 :25. 


XTi  Introduction. 

"If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my  name  I  will  do  it." 
John  14:14. 

And  therefore  I  here  ask  to  join  with  the  author 
of  this  book,  in  bidding  "God  speed"  to  all  those  who 
shall  be  called  of  God  to  take  up  and  carry  forward  to 
a  glorious  success  the  work  of  the  Missouri  Baptist 
General  Association. 

Trenton,  Mo.,  Jan.  24,  1899. 


FOREWORD. 

A  desire  for  a  history  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Gen- 
eral Association  is  by  no  means  a  recent  impulse.  As 
far  back  as  1845,  when  the  Association  was  but  ten 
years  old,  and  in  session  at  Columbia,  Missouri,  the 
following  resolution  was  adopted : 

"That  the  executive  committee  be  requested  to 
prepare,  by  the  next  meeting  of  this  Association,  a  his- 
tory of  this  Association  from  its  origin  to  the  present 
time." 

More  than  a  half  century  has  been  buried  in  the 
depths  of  the  ocean  of  the  past  since  that  resolution 
gave  expression  of  the  devotion  of  the  fathers  to  the 
organization  born  of  love  and  rocked  in  persecution. 

A  count  of  the  names  of  the  messengers  to  that 
meeting  of  the  General  xA.ssociation,  suggests  more  than 
a  probability  that,  but  one  of  them  survives  to  this  day. 
That  one  is  Samuel  Howard  Ford,  LL.  D.,  who  in  1845 
was  yet  a  young  man,  but  his  power  of  thought  and 
eloquence  of  speech  had  drawn  to  him  the  attention  of 
the  denomination.  From  his  youth  down  to  a  mentally 
vigorous  old  age  he  has  been  a  fast  friend  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, though  not  all  the  while  a  resident  of  Missouri, 
the  state  in  which  he  began  his  ministry  and  in  which 
he  chooses  to  close  his  active  and  brilliant  and  useful 
career. 

A  few  years  subsequent  to  the  enactment  of  the 
foregoing  resolution,  the  Association  adopted  a  similar 
though  more  urgent  resolution  calling  for  a  history  of 
the  beloved  organization. 

Since  those  early  days  great  changes  have  marked 
the  track  of  time.  Church  yards  and  cemeteries  have 
claimed  the  tabernacles  of  the  souls  of  those  who 
founded  and  promoted  the  association  that  to-day  is  an 

XIII 


XIV  Foreword. 

acknowledged  power  for  good.  A  sparsely  populated 
state  has  grown  to  number  its  more  than  three  million 
people.  The  five  thousand  Baptists  of  1834  have  been 
succeeded  by  the  130,000  of  1898;  the  one  hundred  and 
fifty  churches  have  multiplied  to  more  than  seventeen 
hundred. 

Through  this  period  of  progress  and  great  change 
of  the  conditions  of  life  there  has  been  a  continuous 
and  oft  repeated  wish  for  a  history  of  the  General  As- 
sociation. To  meet  that  desire,  and  to  perpetuate  the 
names  and  noble  deeds  of  noble  men  and  women,  this 
volume  has  been  written,  and  by  repeated  requests  of 
.the  General  Association  is  now  sent  forth  with  the  hope 
and  the  prayer  that  it  may  not  disappoint  those  in  whom 
favorable  expectations  have  been  awakened. 

To  further  promote  the  cause  from  which  the 
fathers  drew  inspiration  even  unto  heroic  sacrifice;  is 
another  motive  to  the  efifort  to  gather  up  the  fragments 
of  more  than  three  score  years,  and  combine  them  into 
an  unpretentious  volume  as  a  pleasure  and  a  help  to  the 
toilers  of  the  present  and  so  far  into  the  future  as  shall 
call  forth  a  more  worthy  tribute  and  a  better  contribu- 
tion to  the  progress  of  Truth  in  Missouri. 

The  worker  and  the  producer  of  to-day  utilizes  the 
capital  of  yesterday  to  augment  to-morrow's  wealth. 
So  the  Present,  a  rich  heir  of  the  Past,  is  the  Patron  of 
the  Future.  A  people  withput  a  history  are  out  of  the 
course  of  progress;  neither  benefited  by  the  past  nor 
benefiting  the  future.  They  who  have  a  history,  but 
are  ignorant  thereof,  or  indifferent  thereunto,  are  social 
parasites,  living  from  the  life  of  others  and  contribut- 
ing to  the  life  of  none. 

The  chief  aim  of  this  book  is  to  accomplish  the  de- 
sire of  one  growing  old  in  the  service,  to  acquaint 
younger  workers  of  the  present,  and  those  who  are  to 
put  on  the  armor  after  he  shall  have  been  called  from 
„labor  to  refreshment,  with  the  spirit  and  scope,  men  and 


Forezvord.  xv 

methods  of  that  christian  enterprise  that  transmits  to 
them  a  great  opportunity  and  equal  responsibility. 

If  a  few  consecrated  followers  of  the  Savior  could 
accomplish  the  works  that  we  see,  surrounded  as  they 
were  by  manifold  hindrances,  what  ought  not  to  be  the 
outcome  of  the  hosts  of  to-day  encompassed  as  they  are 
by  every  possible  opportunity  for  doing  great  things 
in  the  name  of  Christ?  What  shall  the  harvest  be? 
It  can  no  longer  be  said,  ''the  laborers  are  few."  True 
the  field  is  great,  but  so  numerous  are  the  laborers  that, 
a  little  vineyard  is  never  vacated  but  that  scores  and 
scores  of  viners  make  application  for  the  vacancy. 
There  seems  not  to  be  sheep-folds  enough  for  anxious 
shepherds.  There  are  thousands  of  church  members 
and  hundreds  of  churches  that  have  names  to  live,  but, 
in  fact,  are  dead.  If  the  churches  and  church  mem- 
bers on  the  earth  would  awake  and  put  on  their 
strength,  the  world  would  soon  be  converted  to  Christ. 
If  all  would  but  "seek  first  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  His 
righteousness,"  instead  of  first  seeking  the  things  that 
pertain  to  the  life  that  now  is,  then  the  church  would 
be  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hill — a  light  to  lighten  the 
nations. 

The  author  confesses  that  yet  another  motive 
impelled  him  to  the  preparation  of  this  volume:  Mis- 
souri, Missourians  and  Missouri  Baptists  have  long 
been  shamefully  misunderstood,  misrepresented  and 
neglected  by  some  people  who  through  ignorant  preju- 
dice have  refused  to  accept  the  force  of  patent  facts. 
The  advantage  of  geographical  situation,  the  wonder- 
ful and  practically  inexhaustible  natural  resources,  the 
varied  adaptability  of  soil  and  climate  to  valuable  pro- 
duction, the  abounding  beds  and  mountains  of  valuable 
metals  and  coal  are  just  now  beginning  to  be  fairly  ap- 
preciated. The  educational,  rehgious  and  social  prog- 
ress of  the  people  of  Missouri  are  obscured  to  the  will- 


XVI  Foreword. 

ful  blindness  of  such  as  prefer  the  veil  of  prejudice  to 
the  full  significance  of  facts. 

Missouri  Baptists  have  not  that  recognition  in  re- 
gions beyond,  to  which  their  enterprise,  attainments  and 
achievements  entitle  them.  Dr.  Cathcart's  Baptist  En- 
cyclopedia practically  gives  Missouri  the  go-by.  Even 
as  broad  minded  and  fair  a  man  as  Dr.  Thos.  Armit- 
age,  in  his  history  of  Baptists,  seems  not  to  have  known 
the  geography  of  the  people  of  whom  he  wrote. 

It  has  been  true  that  Baptists  coming  into  this 
great  state  from  certain  sections  of  the  union  have 
assumed  an  offensive  air  of  seeming  social  superiority, 
asserting  right  to  recognition  of  assumed  wisdom 
above  that  of  the  people  among  whom  they  graciously 
condescended  to  cast  their  lot. 

This  book  has  been  written  that  the  facts  of  Bap- 
tist life  and  character  and  progress  in  Missouri  might 
encourage  Baptists  to  even  greater  things,  and  to  inti- 
mate to  the  world  that  Missouri  and  her  people  are  not 
in  the  rear  of  the  procession  of  progress. 

No  literary  ambition  has  inspired  the  effort  to  pro- 
duce this  work,  nor  is  there  claim  to  literary  novelty  or 
excellency.  This  is  a  plain  and  unpretentious  selection 
and  classification  of  events,  facts  and  personal  inci- 
dents in  the  origin  and  progress  of  a  great  work  looking 
to  the  uplifting  of  humanity  and  the  glory  of  God.  It 
does  not  claim  to  be  a  history  of  Baptists  in  Missouri. 
There  is  no  need  at  present  of  such  work.  Rev.  R.  S. 
Duncan  in  his  History  has  done  this  general  work. 
This  is  a  history  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Asso- 
ciation. Of  course,  the  prominence  and  influence  of 
the  General  Association  in  the  work  of  progress,  are  so 
associated  with  all  the  leading  enterprises  of  the  denom- 
ination in  the  state,  that  it  is  a  necessary  center  in  the 
history  of  the  denomination.  To  know  all  about  the 
General  Association  is  to  be  in  touch  with  the  active 
influences  at  work  in  the  state  and  to  have  knowledge 


Foreword.  xvii 

of  antecedent  methods  and  steps  for  reaching  present 
conditions  of  the  denomination  generally  within  the 
state.  The  work  is,  therefore,  a  history — not  of  gen- 
eral details — of  Baptist  progress  in  Missouri. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  acknowledge  indebtedness  to 
Armitage's  History  of  Baptists,  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Williams' 
Lectures  on  Baptist  History,  Benedict's  History  of 
Baptists,  Duncan's  History  of  Baptists  in  Missouri, 
Hon.  W.  F.  Switzler's  History  of  Missouri,  the  Semi- 
centennial Memorial  volume,  files  of  Ford's  Christian 
Repository  and  of  the  Central  Baptist.  These  sources 
of  information  added  to  complete  files  of  the  minutes  of 
the  General  Association,  have  given  the  author  as  much 
pleasure  as  labor  in  searching  out  such  facts  as  to  him 
seemed  cardinal  to  the  work  he  proposed  to  do  for  his 
brethren. 


History  of  Missouri  Baptist  General 

Association. 


CHAPTER    I. 


FRANCO-SPANISH    PERIOD. 


The  progress  of  Christianity  from  the  days  of 
John  the  Baptist  is  so  interwoven  with  the  varying 
conditions  of  human  Hfe  that  an  analysis  of  history  dis- 
covers the  Secular  as  at  once  the  companion  and  the  ve- 
hicle of  the  Sacred.  The  life  philosophy  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth  interpenetrates  the  whole  of  human  life,  indi- 
vidual and  social.  The  natural  and  the  Spiritual  are 
coordinate  forces,  in  that  Kingdom  which  is  not  of  this 
world  but  which  is  immanent  with  all  incidents,  events 
and  epochs  that  mark  the  upheavals,  overturnings  and 
revolutions  in  human  society. 

As  the  gay  light  of  dawn  signals  the  approach  of 
the  full  illumined  day,  so  the  venturesome  and  perilous 
voyage  of  Christopher  Columbus  foretold  the  transfor- 
mation of  a  continent  of  savage  darkness  into  a  region 
of  Christian  light. 

The  history  of  Missouri  from  the  time  of  Louis  the 
XIV  of  France  to  the  days  of  Napoleon  as  first  consul 
of  the  French  empire,  and  Thomas  Jefferson  as  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  thence  down  to  the  heated 
contest  in  the  American  congress  incited  by  the  appli- 


2  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

cation  of  the  Missouri  Territory  for  statehood  reveals 
the  handwriting  of  that  providence  that  extorts  praise 
to  God  from  the  wrath  of  man  while  it  restrains  the  re- 
mainder of  wrath.  It  is  a  story  as  unique  as  it  is  com- 
prehensive in  its  relation  to  the  progress  of  freedom  of 
conscience  and  civil  liberty.  It  opens  to  view  a  field  of 
thought  as  rich  in  prospect  as  it  is  retrospectively  thrill- 
ing. 

To  note  the  chronology  and  personal  names,  and 
events  and  localities  and  periods  and  epochs  of  history 
without  connoting  the  purposes  and  methods  of  Infinite 
sovereignty  is  like  star  gazing  without  knowledge  of 
the  forces  and  laws  of  motion  of  the  worlds  that  adorn 
the  firmament  and  declare  the  glory  of  the  Creator ;  or 
like  feasting  the  eyes  on  the  ravishing  beauties  of  the 
earth  without  a  knowledge  of  the  processes  that  gave  it 
varied  aspects  and  bedecked  it  with  every  display  of 
loveliness  from  Nature's  mysterious  botanical  labora- 
tory that  it  might  in  voiceless  poetr}^  display  the  hand 
work  of  infinite  benevolence. 

Many  of  the  noteworthy  conflicts  of  personal  am- 
bition and  national  jealousy  have  been  the  interpretors 
of  the  ceaseless  struggles  between  Truth  and  Error. 
There  is  nothing  more  definitely  certified  by  the  stamp 
of  circumstances  than  that  civil  liberty  and  free  institu- 
tions are  the  outgrowth  of  emancipated  thought,  and 
that  Christianity  is  the  fair  but  strong  hand  that  breaks 
the  bands  that  bind  thought  and  conscience  to  tyranny 
either  civil  or  ecclesiastical.  It  may  seem  paradoxical 
if  not  contradictory  that  the  selfish  motives  of  an  ambi- 
tious foreign  ruler  contributed  as  largely  to  the  estab- 
lishment and  development  of  institutions  now  recog- 
nized as  distinguishingly  American,  as  did  the  unselfish 
patriotism  of  the  "father  of  his  country."  Napoleon 
when  first  consul  of  France  was  moved  by  ambition 
when  he  conceived  the  idea  and  formed  the  purpose  to 


Franco-Spanisli  Period.  3 

transfer  the  Louisiana  country  to  the  United  States. 
It  is  not  at  all  probable,  notwithstanding  his  sagacious 
penetration  that  he  comprehended  the  full  impregnation 
of  his  great  conception. 

France  had  ceded  her  North  American  posses- 
sions to  Spain  as  a  war  indemnity.  This  was  done  in 
1763  by  the  provisions  of  the  Fountaine  Bleau  treaty. 
In  1800,  when  Napoleon  was  at  the  zenith  of  his  fame 
as  a  chieftain  and  a  ruler,  and  had  achieved  renown  for 
France  as  supreme  on  land,  he  was  filled  with  ambition 
to  make  her  Mistress  of  the  Seas.  He  proposed  to 
the  King  of  Spain  that  he  cede  to  France  the  coveted 
American  territory.  As  a  consideration  for  this  pro- 
posed transfer  he  proffered  the  crown  of  a  New  King- 
dom— Etruria — which  he  was  about  to  establish,  to  the 
son-in-law  of  the  Spanish  Kmg.  To  this  bargain  the 
King  of  Spain  acceded.  Ambition  for  family  power 
outweighed  the  pride  of  domain,  and  Louisiana  passed 
back  to  France  October  i,  iSoo. 

In  1803  Napoleon  was  involved  in  a  heated  con- 
test with  Great  Britain.  He  had  not  secured  for 
France  the  long  desired  command  of  the  high  seas. 
His  navy  was  unequal  to  that  of  his  great  enemy.  He 
received  information  that  Great  Britain  had  dispatched 
a  strong  naval  fleet  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  This  in- 
formation sent  consternation  to  the  brain  of  the  intrepid 
conqueror.  On  an  Easter  Sunday.  April  10,  1803, 
Napoleon  was  attending  such  religious  service  as  was 
peculiar  to  a  Romanized  people.  But  his  great  mind 
was  ill  at  ease :  he  had  not  visions  of  Calvary's  exhibit 
of  infinite  love,  nor  realization  of  a  world  lost  in  sin  for 
whose  redemption  a  crucified  Saviour  had  conquered 
death  in  his  own  dark  domain;  but  his  visions  were  of 
a  mighty  hostile  fleet  landing  on  the  southern  border  of 
his  great  American  possessions.  As  he  sat  midst  the 
imposing  grandeur  of  Cathedral  architecture  and  art 


4  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

with  the  pomp  of  empty  ceremony  before  him,  neither 
the  duties  of  Time  nor  the  awful  reaHties  of  Eternity 
engaged  his  perturbed  soul.  Personal  fame  and  na- 
tional glory  were  menaced  by  a  powerful  foe.  Midst 
the  surroundings  of  displayful  religion  he  gave  his 
thoughts  to  schemes  of  stragetic  enterprise.  He  re- 
turned to  his  rooms  with  a  bran  new  idea :  I  will  dispose 
of  Louisiana  to  the  United  States.  I  can  not  hold  it 
against  the  superior  force  of  England,  that  hated  foe 
shall  not  make  a  conquest  of  my  great  North  Ameri- 
can possessions.  How  inscrutable  the  ways  of  Provi- 
dence! A  mighty  monarch  committed  by  ancestral 
faith  and  educational  bias  to  a  secular  religion  that 
claimed  imperial  authority  and  the  right  to  dominate 
individual  consciences,  unwittingly  conceiving  a  scheme 
to  enlarge  the  territory  and  widen  the  field  selected  by 
Providence  for  planting  the  institutions  of  freedom 
and  a  church  based  upon  the  broad  democratic  princi- 
ples of  liberty  of  conscience  and  equal  rights  of  the 
members  in  particular  of  the  mystic  body  of  the  King 
of  Kings. 

Upon  his  return  from  religious  service,  Napoleon 
immediately  sent  for  the  members  of  his  cabinet.  To 
them  he  communicated  the  condition  of  affairs  and  his 
new-formed  plan  and  purpose.  He  directed  that  Mr. 
Robert  Livingstone,  the  United  States  minister  to  the 
French  government,  be  invited  to  their  presence.  To 
him  was  submitted  the  proposition  that  the  United 
States  purchase  Louisiana.  In  the  meanwhile  the 
government  at  Washington  had  become  uneasy  about 
the  possible  interference  with  United  States  commerce 
by  reason  of  obstructed  access  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
by  way  of  Mississippi  river  transportation,  and  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  had  sent  James  Monroe  to  France  as 
special  envov  to  secure,  if  possible,  a  cession  to  the 
United   States   of  the   left   bank   of   that   great   river 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  5 

where  it  passes  through  Louisiana.  Mr.  Monroe  was 
on  his  way  to  Paris  at  the  very  time  the  French  author- 
ities w^ere  in  consultation  with  Mr.  Livingstone  about 
the  transfer  of  the  whole  of  Napoleon's  American  pos- 
sessions. How  great  Monroe's  surprise,  and  how  su- 
preme his  delight  to  find  on  reaching  Paris  that  there 
was  not  only  hope  of  the  success  of  his  mission,  but  im- 
mediate prospects  for  much  greater  things  for  his 
home  government. 

It  is  quite  safe,  perhaps,  to  infer  at  this  late  date 
that  neither  of  the  high  contracting  parties  to  the  Lou- 
isiana negotiations  had  any  adequate  conception  of  the 
vast  area  and  inestimable  value  of  the  subject-matter  of 
the  negotiations. 

On  April  30,  1803,  the  negotiations  were  concluded 
and  on  the  third  of  May  the  contract  was  signed,  and 
the  United  States  became  the  owner  of  the  vast  landed 
treasure  at  the  price  of  fifteen  millions  of  dollars  (a  sum 
of  money  much  smaller  than  the  private  fortune  of 
some  of  our  multimillionaires).  The  senate  of  the 
United  States  ratified  this  contract  on  the  seventeenth 
day  of  the  following  October. 

Now  let  the  reader  turn  to  an  accurate  and  authen- 
tic map  of  the  United  States ;  he  will  see  that  the  thir- 
teen original  colonies  and  adjacent  territory,  as  recog- 
nized by  Great  Britain  in  1783  were  bounded  on  the 
west  by  what  is  now  the  eastern  line  of  the  states  of 
Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Arkansas  and  Louisiana, 
and  on  the  south  by  a  narrow  strip  of  the  southern  ex- 
tremes of  what  are  now  the  states  of  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama and  Georgia,  and  the  whole  of  Florida.  Now 
look  westward  from  the  original  boundary  and  rest  the 
eye  upon  the  wide  extended  and  magnificent  region 
embracing  the  states  of  Minnesota,  Iowa,  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  Louisiana,  part  of  Texas,  part  of  Colorado, 
then  all  of  Kansas,  the  Indian  Territory  including  Okla- 


6  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

homa,  all  of  Nebraska, Wyoming,  Montana,  Idaho,  Ore- 
gon, Washington  and  the  North  and  South  Dakotas — a 
region  of  area  and  natural  resources  sufficient  for  a 
mighty  empire  or  powerful  republic.  All  of  this  region 
dotted  over  by  thrifty  farms,  thriving  towns,  great 
manufacturing  centers  and  populous  cities,  net-worked 
by  thousands  of  miles  of  railroads  and  having  the  cli- 
mate, soil,  minerals  and  precious  metals  for  the  susten- 
tation  and  prosperous  commonwealth  sufficient  for  a 
population  far  in  excess  of  the  present  population  of 
the  whole  Union.  This  vast  area  and  natural  wealth 
accrued  to  the  United  States  by  the  purchase  of  Lou- 
isiana. 

It  is  proper  to  note  in  this  connection  that  subse- 
quent to  the  foregoing  achievement  of  consummate 
statesmanship  the  United  States  parted  with  its  Texas 
possession  in  exchange  for  the  southern  strips  of  the 
states  of  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia  and  all  of  Flor- 
ida. This  was  in  1819.  The  manner  of  the  subse- 
quent annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  bears 
only  indirectly  upon  our  subject. 

Some  reader  of  these  pages  may  be  tempted  to 
ask:  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  the  history  of  the 
General  Association  of  Missouri  Baptists?  The  an- 
swer is,  as  before  intimated,  much  every  way.  The 
great  English  dramatist  wrote:  "There  is  a  divinity 
that  shapes  our  ends,  rough  hew  them  as  we  may." 
The  charming  poet  whose  genius  was  only  occasion- 
ally beclouded  by  inane  melancholy  wrote : 

"God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 
His  wonders  to  perform," 

and  one  of  America's  most  eminent  Baptist  divines 
wrote:  "God  times  all  things  in  the  interest  of  His 
Messiah's  Kingdom."  The  great  Apostle  to  the  Gen- 
tiles told  the  early  Christians  "All  things  are  yours, 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  7 

and  ye  are  Christ's  and  Christ  is  God's."  All  things ! 
How  comprehensive,  how  all-inclusive  is  the  church's 
inventory  of  capital  assets !  The  utterances  of  poets, 
philosophers,  orators,  theologians  and  statesmen; 
the  schemes  of  great  and  daring  adventurers  like  Co- 
lumbus, DeSoto,  LaSalle,  Marquet  and  Ponce  de  Leon ; 
the  wars  and  revolutions  of  the  ages  are  but  the  instru- 
ments of  the  great  underlying  and  overruling  force  that 
impels  the  car  of  progress  along  its  tortuous  route  and 
voice  the  sublime  purpose  that  gives  impulse  and  power 
to  that  Kingdom  which  is  to  have  no  end,  and  which 
is  to  break  into  pieces  the  colossal  civil  and  military  in- 
stitutions born  of  human  wisdom  and  ambition.  They 
are  part  of  the  fulfiUings  of  that  prophecy  which  de- 
clares that  the  King  of  kings  shall  see  of  the  travail  of 
his  soul  and  shall  be  satisfied.  Nothing  can  stay  the 
stone  cut  from  the  mountain  side  as  it  dashes  itself 
down  declivities  against  the  huge  image  standing  at  the 
base.  The  powers  of  Hades  can  not  prevail  against  the 
Church  of  Christ  as  in  its  conflict  with  error  it  slowly 
but  surely  moves  on  to  ultimate  triumph  and  glory. 

Can  any  one  at  all  conversant  with  the  history  of 
progress,  for  a  moment  doubt  that,  the  United  States 
is  to  enlighten  the  nations  of  the  earth?  It  was  more 
than  poetic  sentiment  assuming  shape  and  proportions 
of  art  that  placed  in  one  of  America's  greatest  harbors 
a  colossal  statue  of  liberty  sending  forth  lights  to  sym- 
bol America  enlightening  the  world,  it  was  an  uncon- 
scious materialization  of  a  prophecy  inherent  in  the  his- 
tory and  institutions  of  the  United  States.  The  perfect 
law  of  liberty  must  be  inwrought  with  the  thought  habit 
of  the  nations  before  the  people  in  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  earth  can  or  will  shake  away  the  shackles  that  bind 
the  mind  and  fetter  the  conscience.  Where  do  we  find 
the  principles  of  human  rights  intelligently  and  benev- 
olently recognized  elsewhere  than  in  regions  blessed  by 


8  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

the  full  light  of  the  precepts  of  the  lowly  Nazarene? 
And  who  have  been  so  steadfastly  faithful  in  holding 
forth  that  light  as  have  Baptists :  and  is  not  America  the 
world's  Baptist  stronghold?  God  mysteriously  util- 
izes the  human  mind  and  the  incidents  and  events  of 
human  life  to  progressively  build  of  lively  stones  a 
temple  before  which  the  dazzling  splendors  of  Ancient 
Jerusalem's  physical  type  shall  pale. 

Is  it  not  significant  that  infidel  France  was  made 
to  contribute  to  the  establishment  and  expansion  of  a 
government  founded  upon  Christian  principles?  The 
sympathy  of  France  with  the  American  revolutionists 
took  substantial  form  in  the  person  and  aid  of  the 
Marquis  de  La  Fayette;  but  for  the  first  consul,  we  can 
not  say  that  the  original  American  colonies  would  have 
expanded  into  a  continent  sweeping  from  the  St.  Law- 
rence to  the  Pacific  and  from  the  northern  lakes  to  the 
southern  gulf.  And  strange  to  say  the  conception  and 
materialization  of  "America  enlightening  the  world"  is 
of  a  Frenchman  and  from  France.  When  Lifidelity  suc- 
cors Faith,  does  not  God  make  the  wrath  of  man  praise 
Him,  and  will  He  not  restrain  the  remainder  of  wrath? 

Imagine  the  United  States  limited  to  the  thirteen 
original  states  and  adjacent  territory  recognized  by 
Great  Britain  in  1783;  now  imagine  a  French  or  Span- 
ish empire  covering  the  immense  region  embraced  by 
the  Louisiana  purchase,  and  having  control  of  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river.  Then  think  of  Eng- 
land's Canadian  provinces  lying  hard  against  our 
northern  border.  You  at  once  have  a  picture  of  a 
feeble  republic  walled  in  by  foreign  and  alien  powers. 
Endless  hostilities  and  an  absorbing  standing  army 
would  have  been  the  lot  of  a  small  and  comparatively 
helpless  population,  with  whom  American  ideas  would 
have  lived  in  feebleness  without  power  or  opportunity 
of  expansion.     The  acquisition  of  the  Louisiana  Ter- 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  9 

ritory  without  sacrifice  of  blood  and  at  a  meager  price 
in  money  seems  providential  and  part  of  a  great  and 
far-reaching  plan. 

]\lissouri  was  carved  out  of  the  vast  domain  added 
to  the  United  States  by  the  wisdom  of  Jefferson  and 
the  alarm  of  Napoleon.  Missouri  is  nearly  geograph- 
ically central  to  the  vast  and  varied  region  now  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States.  She  lies  west  of 
the  east  and  east  of  the  great  west.  A  combination  of 
natural  conditions  makes  her  the  center  of  a  world 
conquering  civilization.  Her  wonderful  natural  re- 
sources, and  her  great  metropolis  washed  by  the 
"Father  of  waters"  eminently  qualify  her  for  her  high 
destiny  in  the  schedule  of  a  beneficent  Providence. 

So  far  as  numbers  and  wealth  are  factors  in  the 
forces  of  progress,  Baptists  have  preeminence  in  this 
wonderful  state;  and  it  may  be  at  least  an  interesting 
coincidence  that,  the  president  of  the  United  States 
under  whose  far-seeing  statesmanship  the  United 
States  became  the  owner  and  possessor  of  ihe  vast  re- 
gion of  which  Missouri  is  a  part,  perfected  his  theory 
of  a  civil  democracy  from  his  acquaintance  with  Bap- 
tist theory  and  practice  of  church  polity.  He  was  not 
slow  to  reason  that  the  mind  accustomed  to  individual 
tliought  and  free  and  independent  action  in  ecclesias- 
tical matters  would  not  be  long  in  asserting,  nor  tardy 
in  maintaining  the  same  liberty  in  civil  affairs,  and  that 
minds  thus  trained  to  soul  liberty  would  be  the  fast 
friends  of  a  constitutional  democracy.  In  this  connec- 
tion recurs  another  fact  of  history  singularly  and  sug- 
gestively in  keeping  with  the  foregoing.  By  article 
in  of  the  contract  for  the  transfer  of  Louisiana  to  the 
United  States,  written  by  Napoleon's  own  hand,  it  was 
especially  covenanted  that :  "the  inhabitants  of  the 
ceded  territory  shall  be  incorporated  in  the  union 
of  the  United  States,  and  admitted  as  soon  as  possible, 


lo  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

according-  to  the  principles  of  the  Federal  constitution, 
to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  advantages  and  im- 
munities of  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the 
meantime  they  shall  be  maintained  and  protected  in 
the  free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property  and  the  re- 
ligion which  they  profess." 

The  foregoing  are  some  of  the  suggestive  facts 
that  naturally  associate  themselves  with  the  history  of 
an  organization  that  in  no  small  measure  represents  the 
spirit  and  the  progress  of  the  great  state,  that  give  spe- 
cial significance  to  the  crowning  act  of  Jefferson's  able 
administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  young  republic  and 
that  help  to  write  his  name  preeminent  in  the  nation's 
history;  and  now  without  entering  into  detail  of  the 
history  of  the  adventures  of  DeSoto  and  other  historic 
characters  in  connection  with  Missouri  in  its  relations 
to  Spain  and  France  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  present 
century,  we  will  give  our  attention  more  especially  to 
the  conditions  of  that  portion  of  the  purchase  which  is 
now  Missouri,  during  the  Franco-Spanish  period. 

In  the  year  1800  the  entire  population  of  what  is 
now  the  State  of  Missouri  was  a  little  in  excess  of  six 
thousand;  more  than  half  of  this  population  was  dis- 
tributed as  follows :  St.  Genevieve  949,  St.  Louis  925, 
St.  Charles  875,  New  Madrid  782.  The  remainder 
was  scattered  through  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
state.  This  small  population  was  made  up  mainly  of 
adventurers  who  had  crossed  the  Mississippi  river 
either  as  fur  traders  or  in  quest  of  silver  and  gold  which 
were  supposed  to  be  concealed  in  fabulous  quantities 
beneath  the  surface  of  Missouri's  fair  lands.  It  was 
this  search  for  the  precious  metals  that  brought  DeSoto, 
who  landed  at  Tampa  Bay  in  Florida  in  the  year  1539. 
nearly  a  half  century  after  the  landing  of  Columbus. 
He  found  his  way  through  many  perils  from  his  land- 
ing on  the  shores  of  the  land  of  flowers,  to  the  Ozark 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  1 1 

mountains  of  Missouri,  but  finding  no  treasures,  he 
made  his  way  with  depleted  forces  and  exhausted  vi- 
taHty  back  to  the  Mississippi  river,  where  after  weary 
months  and  toilsome  years  he  found  a  watery  grave — 
and  so  Peru's  conqueror  and  bespoiler  sank  in  disap- 
pointment, certifying  to  the  vanity  of  wealth  and  re- 
nown ill  gotten  by  oppression  and  cruelty. 

In  1682,  LaSalle,  a  Frenchman  from  Canada,  ex- 
plored the  Mississippi  river  to  its  mouth.  He  took 
formal  possession  of  the  whole  country  in  the  name  of 
Louis  XIV,  and  in  honor  of  him,  he  named  the  country 
Louisiana.  In  1719  the  interior  of  Missouri  was  ex- 
plored by  the  French,  by  authority  of  the  French  dep- 
uties at  New  Orleans.  In  i720  Spanish  forces  were 
organized  at  Santa  Fe  in  what  is  now  New  Mexico, 
to  repel  the  French.  This  outfit  was  called  the  "Span- 
ish Caravan."  This  movement  was  unsuccessful. 
The  French  therefore  eft'ected  permanent  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Missouri.  The  first  settlement  was  at  St. 
Genevieve  in  1735,  the  next  was  at  St.  Louis  in  1764, 
then  followed  at  about  the  same  time  the  settlement  at 
St.  Charles.  The  reader  will  have  no  difficulty  in  in- 
ferring the  religious  condition  of  these  settlements. 
Though  Roman  Catholicism  was  the  dominant  and 
dominating  religion,  infidelity,  immorality  and  oppo- 
sition to  protestant  Christianity  were  the  prevailing 
sentiments,  and  this  was  carried  so  far  as  not  only  to 
disregard  the  sanctity  of  the  Sabbath,  but  French  infi- 
delity openly  declared  that  there  should  be  no  Sabbath. 
This  state  of  things  particularly  characterized  St, 
Louis  in  the  days  of  its  French  history. 

It  was  about  this  time  that,  as  a  result  of  the  battle 
of  Quebec.  France  parted  with  her  American  pos- 
sessions in  the  south  and  west  to  Spain.  The  manner 
of  France's  recovery  of  the  territory  from  Spain  has 
been  given  in  preceding  pages. 


12  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

During  the  Franco-Spanish  period  of  our  history 
some  Baptists  ventured  to  leave  their  homes  and  the 
protection  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes  and  seek  fortune  in 
the  wilds  of  the  forest  west  of  the  Mississippi.  So  far  as 
the  facts  may  be  verified  it  appears  that  Baptists  were 
the  first  non-Roman  Catholic  white  residents  of  the 
great  territory.  These  came  in  1796  and  settled  a  few 
miles  south  of  where  the  town  of  Jackson,  in  Cape  Gi- 
rardeau county,  is  now  located.  These  adventurous 
christians  made  their  humble  homes  in  the  forest.  Be- 
sides these  few  settlers  there  were  in  that  immediate  sec- 
tion no  other  human  beings  except  the  savage  red  man. 
The  institutions  of  Christianity  had  not  found  a  home  in 
the  forest  and  the  few  Baptist  settlers  were  not  favored 
with  the  privilege  of  assembling  themselves  together 
for  worship  and  christian  communion  except  as  they 
occasionally  met  for  scripture  reading,  song  and  prayer 
in  the  rude  cabins  where  they  made  their  lowly  and 
perilous  homes.  But  in  1799  J^y  came  to  their  hearts 
and  homes  in  the  person  of  an  aged  Baptist  preacher, 
by  name  Thomas  Johnson.  This  messenger  of  light 
and  comfort  came  from  the  state  of  Georgia  where  he 
had  been  a  missionary  among  the  Cherokee  Indians. 
His  coming  into  the  "Territory" — as  it  was  now  gener- 
ally called — was  doubtless  a  voluntary  missionary  tour 
undertaken  at  his  own  charges  and  risk,  perhaps,  of 
his  life.  To  the  few  settlers  he  preached  the  gospel 
in  violation  of  the  law  then  established  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  territory,  for  the  "home  government"  of 
the  territory  forbade,  under  severe  pains  and  penalties, 
any  heretic  from  public  teaching  in  the  name  of  Jesus 
Christ.  His  preaching  was  a  great  comfort  to  the 
faithful  and  the  means  of  the  conversion  of  others.  He 
was  no  doubt  the  administrator  of  the  first  Christian 
baptism  in  what  is  now  our  great  state.     The  subject 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  13 

was  a  Mrs.  Ballow,  and  the  water  was  that  of  Randall's 
Creek. 

A  Baptist  church  was  constituted  in  this  neighbor- 
hood in  the  year  1806.  This  organization  took  the 
name  of  Bethel  Baptist  Church.  In  this  instance  the 
name  was  eminently  appropriate.  It  was  a  place  of 
rest  to  the  waiting,  longing  souls  that  composed  the 
little  band  of  God-fearing  men  and  women.  The  con- 
gregation soon  erected  a  house  of  worship  made  of 
huge  hewn  poplar  logs.  The  organization  and  the 
house  are  long  since  extinct.  In  1875  the  Rev.  Dr.  J. 
C.  Maple  and  Rev.  James  Reid  obtained  a  piece  of  one 
of  the  original  logs  of  this  primitive  structure,  and 
caused  to  be  made  of  it  a  beautiful  gavel  for  use  in  the 
meetings  of  the  General  Association.  This  gavel  was 
beautifully  mounted  with  silver  bands  and  a  silver 
plate  bearing  an  appropriate  inscription  by  the  giver. 

In  an  elegant  and  pathetic  address  Dr.  Maple  pre- 
sented the  gavel  to  the  General  Association  at  a  regular 
meeting  held  at  St.  Joseph  in  October,  1875.  The 
gavel  is  still  in  use,  and  has  been  often  examined  and 
admired  by  many  a  devout  brother  and  sister  who 
loved  to  think  of  the  consecration  and  deprivation  of 
Missouri  Baptist  pioneers. 

Leaving  the  extreme  southeast  quarter  of  the  state 
we  come  up  to  the  St.  Louis  region.  In  1797  Nortli 
Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Kentucky  made  contri- 
butions to  the  Baptist  garden  to  be  planted  in  the  wil- 
derness. Some  of  these  immigrants  settled  in  what  is 
now  St.  Louis  county.  Others,  including  members  of 
the  family  of  the  historic  Daniel  Boone,  moved  with 
their  ancestor,  the  hero  pioneer  of  Kentucky,  farther  up 
the  river  and  settled  in  what  is  now  St.  Charles  county. 
These  pioneer  Baptists,  like  those  in  the  southeast  part 
of  the  state,  were  denied  the  privileges  of  the  sanctuary 
and  a  preached  gospel  for  the  first  year  or  two  after 


14  Franco-Spanish  Period. 

settling  in  their  new  homes.  But  in  1798  a  messenger 
of  the  Lord  came  to  them.  Jolm  Clark  was  without 
reasonable  doubt  the  first  preacher  of  the  uncorrupted 
gospel  of  the  Son  of  God  that  set  foot  on  Missouri  soil. 
Mr.  Clark  was  a  Baptist  preacher  who  severed  his  con- 
nection with  the  Wesleyans  in  1796.  He  was  a  Scotch- 
man by  birth.  His  ancestors  were  Presbyterians, 
whicli  perhaps  explains  in  part  his  liberal  education 
for  the  period  in  which  he  lived,  as  well  as  his  rigid 
though  genial  morality,  while,  perhaps,  his  connection 
with  the  Wesleyans  accounts  for  his  zeal,  or  perhaps 
it  was  a  zealous  nature  that  led  him  into  that  connec- 
tion. His  becoming  a  Baptist  indicates  his  independ- 
ence of  thought,  candid  investigation  and  loyalty  to  the 
Truth.  This  man  was  from  choice  a  pedestrian — he 
made  all  of  his  many  appointments  on  foot,  and  al- 
though often  put  to  great  straits  by  muddy  roads  and 
swollen  streams,  he  is  not  known  to  have  failed  to  reach 
a  preaching  appointment.  His  preaching  in  Missouri 
was  frequently  interrupted  by  edicts  of  the  government 
influenced  by,  and  for  execution  committed  to  the  Ro- 
man church.  During  his  missionary  labors  in  St. 
Louis  county  (that  now  is)  he  established  societies  at 
Coldwater  and  Spanish  Pond  settlements.  These  so- 
cieties afterwards  became  Baptist  churches. 

About  this  time  there  came  to  this  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory a  Baptist  preacher,  by  name  James  Kerr.  He 
first  came  on  a  visit  in  1^99,  and  afterwards  perma- 
nently settled  in  the  territory.  He  came  from  Ken- 
tucky. Not  much  information  concerning  his  work  is 
oljtainable. 

In  1 80 1  Thomas  Music  came  from  Kentucky  to 
the  territory.  He  was,  however,  a  native  of  Virginia. 
He  was  an  earnest,  pathetic  preacher,  whose  sympa- 
thetic temperament  and  upright  life  were  elements  of 
Sfreat    usefulness.      He    was    the    organizer    of    Fee 


Franco-Spanish  Period.  15 

Fee  Church  in  what  is  now  St.  Louis  county.  The 
church  still  exists  and  is  affectionately  designated  the 
"mother  of  us  all" — Baptists  in  Missouri.  This  much 
revered  church  was  constituted  in  i8o7. 

But  for  these  early  settlements  and  the  struggle 
and  fidelity  of  Baptists  during  the  days  that  tried  men's 
souls,  we  know  not  that  there  should  have  been  anv 
Missouri  Baptist  General  Association.  But  be  this  as 
it  may,  the  Baptists  of  the  state  who  love  their  state 
organization  are  tenderly  interested  in  the  simple  his- 
tory of  their  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel. 


CHAPTER  11. 


THE  TERRITORIAL   PERIOD. 


The  Senate  of  the  United  States  ratified  the  pur- 
chase of  Louisiana  from  France  in  1804;  from  that 
time  until  the  admission  of  Missouri  into  the  union  as 
a  state,  is  here  designated  the  territorial  period.  Soon 
after  the  transfer  to  the  United  States,  the  purchased 
domain  was  divided  into  two  parts ;  all  of  that  portion 
embraced  by  the  boundaries  of  what  is  now  the  state 
of  Louisiana,  was  called  the  Territory  of  Orleans.  To 
the  other  part  the  name  of  District  of  Louisiana  was 
given ;  but  in  less  than  a  year  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Territory  of  Louisiana"  and  included  what  is  now  the 
State  of  Missouri.  For  the  convenience  of  civil  gov- 
ernment, this  territory  was  added  to  what  was  then 
known  as  the  Territory  of  Indiana.  The  people  of  Mis- 
souri were  dissatisfied  with  this  arrangement  and  pe- 
titioned the  Federal  government  for  separation  from 
Indiana.  In  response  to  this  petition  the  Territory  of 
Louisiana  was  made  a  territory  of  the  lowest  grade 
under  the  Federal  schedule  for  territorial  government. 
The  first  governor  under  this  order  of  things  was 
General  James  Wilkerson. 

In  1812,  when  General  Benjamin  Howard  was 
governor  by  appointment  of  President  Madison,  the 
congress  passed  an  act  by  which  Louisiana  became  a 
Territory  of  higher  grade  and  the  name  changed  to  Mis- 
souri— Missouri  was  the  name  of  a  peculiarly  shaped 
canoe  used  by  a  tribe  of  Indians  that  came  from  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi  river  and  penetrated  the  country 
west  as  far  as  the  Missouri  river,  bringing  their  canoes 

16 


The  Territorial  Period.  1 7 

with  them,  and  from  these  canoes  the  river  took  its 
name,  and  the  tribe  was  called  the  Missouris. 

About  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  "Territory 
of  Missouri,"  there  were  in  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Missouri  about  10,000  people  exclusive  of  Indians. 
Of  this  number  about  2,000  were  negroes,  mostly 
slaves.  In  this  sparse  population  there  were — as  we 
have  seen — a  few  Baptists,  subjected  to  the  inconven- 
iences of  worship  imposed  prior  to  United  States  rule, 
by  Roman  Catholicism. 

As  the  knowledge  of  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to 
the  United  States  slowly  spread  among  the  people  of 
the  states,  a  new  era  dawned  upon  American  life.  It 
may  seem  to  the  merely  practical  man  that,  the  States 
and  Territories  of  the  Union,  prior  to  the  acquisition 
of  Louisiana  were  a  field  sufficient  for  the  needs  and  en- 
terprise of  the  inhabitants.  But  it  is  interesting  if 
not  comprehensively  suggestive  that,  the  Anglo  Saxon 
race  is  by  nature  and  tradition,  a  restless,  adventurous 
and  enterprising  people.  It  is  questionable  if  progress 
were  possible  without  these  somewhat  troublesome 
characteristics. 

It  is  perhaps,  not  accidental  that,  in  the  course  of 
events  the  most  intelligently  aggressive,  and  therefore 
the  most  progressive  division  of  the  human  race  became 
the  people  who  are  to  carry  the  gospel  enterprise  to  its 
destined  triumph.  The  gospel  committed  to  a  people 
without  the  spirit  of  intellectual  improvement  and  ma- 
terial progress,  must  have  failed  for  lack  of  enlightened 
enthusiasm.  A  feeble  people  who  could  wrest  liberty 
from  the  hands  of  a  tyrant  backed  by  a  parliament  and 
revenues  and  navies  and  armies,  can  be  relied  on  to 
push  to  ultimate  success  any  great  enterprise  looking 
to  the  betterment  of  the  conditions  of  human  life. 


1 8  The  Territorial  Period. 

The  spirit  that  moved  the  Puritans  who  settled 
New  England  and  the  Cavaliers  of  the  south,  and  who 
became  British- American  subjects;  and  then  contended 
for  representation,  and  fought  for  independence,  is  the 
spirit  to  have  promptly  made  the  best  of  such  an  oppor- 
tunity as  the  acquisition  of  the  Louisiana  Territory  af- 
forded. 

The  emigrants  that  moved  westward  from  the 
states  had  by  inheritance  and  the  influence  of  environ- 
ment the  elements  of  character  suited  to  the  propaga- 
tion and  maintainance  of  a  religion  consonant  with 
natural  right  of  freedom  of  the  individual  conscience 
and  the  civil  liberty  of  the  citizen.  Fresh  in  the  mem- 
ories of  the  Baptists  to  emigrate  to  Missouri  after  the 
adoption  of  the  Federal  constitution  were  the  struggles 
of  the  Virginia  Baptists  for  religious  liberty.  Many 
of  these  emigrants  were  Kentuckians — the  descendants 
of  Virginia  families.  The  few  who  came  in  earlier 
days  from  Tennessee  and  the  Carolinas  were  not  ig- 
norant of  the  sufferings  and  heroic  struggles  and 
brilliant  achievements  of  their  Virginia  brethren.  In 
coming  to  a  new  country  they  did  not  leave  behind 
them  their  religion  nor  its  traditions.  The  action  of 
the  Virginia  Baptists  in  securing  the  first  amendment 
to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  was  a  part  of 
their  cherished  inheritance.  The  small  collection  of 
treasured  books,  carefully  stored  in  emigrant  wagons, 
contain  well  preserved  copies  of  an'^Address  of  the  com- 
mittee of  the  United  Baptist  Churches  of  Virginia  as- 
sembled in  the  City  of  Richmond  eighth  of  August, 
1789,  to  the  President  of  the  United  States"  in  which 
the  memorialists  earnestly  and  respectfully  appealed 
to  the  President  to  use  his  influence  in  behalf  of  meas- 
ures to  further  guarantee  to  American  citizens  full 
protection  against  state  interference  with  conscience 
and  the  free  worship  of  God.     This  address  was  offi- 


The  Territorial  Period.  19 

cially  signed  by  men  whose  names  every  Virginia  Bap- 
tist, whether  on  the  native  heath  or  enroute  to  the  "far 
west,"  revered  as  precious  household  words,  associated 
with  the  most  trying  experiences  and  grandest  tri- 
umphs in  the  history  of  progress.  These  names  were 
Samuel  Harris  and  Reuben  Ford,  one  the  chairman 
the  other  the  secretary  of  the  meeting  that  petitioned 
the  president.  They  had  with  them  as  equally  precious 
heirloom  memorials,  copies  of  President  Washington's 
respectful  and  cordial  response,  addressed  to  the  "Gen- 
eral Committee  representing  the  United  Baptists  of 
Virginia."  In  this  communication  to  the  Virginia 
Baptists,  Washington  made  grateful  mention  of  the 
steadfast  friendship  of  Baptists  to  the  principles  and 
struggles  of  the  revolution,  and  closed  by  saying:  "I 
rejoice  to  assure  them — the  Baptists —  that  they  may 
rely  upon  my  best  wishes  and  endeavors  to  advance 
their  prosperity."  It  was  but  a  month  after  this  cor- 
respondence when  James  Madison,  afterwards  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  with  the  approval  of  Wash- 
ington, brought  before  the  congress  a  proposed  amend- 
ment to  the  Federal  constitution  providing  that :  "Con- 
gress shall  make  no  law  respecting  the  establishment 
of  religion  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof." 
This  became  the  first  amendment  to  the  constitution. 
It  was  ratified  by  eleven  of  the  thirteen  states  between 
Noevmber  20,  1789,  and  December,  iTqi.  New  Jersey 
was  the  first  to  ratify  and  Virginia  was  the  last.  This 
seeming  tardiness  on  the  part  of  Virginia  would  seem 
unaccountable  inasmuch  as  she  was  the  prime  and  in- 
fluential mover  for  the  amendment.  But  acquaintance 
with  religious  conditions  in  the  state  will  suggest  that 
the  very  conditions  that  provoked  opposition  to  the 
amendment  were  the  same  that  inspired  the  movement 
to  procure  the  amendment.  The  Cliurch  of  England — 
Episcopalian — was  the  law-established  church  in  Vir- 


20  The  Territorial  Period. 

ginia.  All  citizens  were  taxed  to  support  the  establish- 
ment. Baptists  and  all  other  nonconformists  were 
taxed  to  support  a  clergy  (?)  and  an  organization 
that  had  no  sympathy  with  them  and  for  whom  they 
had  but  little  respect.  The  "clergy"  and  the  estab- 
lished church  vigorously  opposed  the  ratification  of  the 
amendment,  and  brought  to  bear  upon  the  legislature 
every  possible  influence  for  its  defeat.  It  was  the 
claim,  if  not  the  theory  of  the  established  church  that, 
forms  of  religion  should  be  prescribed  and  enforced  by 
the  state.  The  vote  in  the  Virginia  legislature  on  the 
question  to  ratify  the  amendment  to  the  Federal  con- 
stitution was  a  close  one — the  amendment  came  near 
being  rejected.  Thomas  Jefferson,  James  Madison 
and  Patrick  Henry  gave  the  proposition  to  ratify  their 
hearty  support,  but  even  this  trinity  of  talent  and 
learning  and  influence  barely  outweighed  the  money 
and  social  influence  of  the  establishment. 

While  it  is  historically  verified  that,  Baptists  orig- 
inated the  movement  for  religious  liberty  and  were  the 
sufferers  in  its  behalf,  it  is  yet  true  that  Virginia  Pres- 
byterians rallied  to  their  support,  but  for  which  the 
measure  might  have  been  lost,  or  at  least  greatly  de- 
layed. The  proceedings  of  Baptist  Associations  and 
conventions  gave  Presbyterians  an  opportunity  to  make 
a  fight  for  which  by  themselves  they  were  not  sufficient. 
But  their  devotion  to  soul  liberty  was  as  decided  and  as 
pronounced  as  that  of  the  Baptists. 

Contemporaneous  with  the  movement  by  Virginia 
Baptists  for  religious  liberty  were  the  vigorous  and  in- 
defatigable efforts  of  the  Baptists  of  Massachusetts. 
In  that  state  Congregationalism  was  fostered  by  state 
patronage.  Baptists  and  all  others  were  taxed  to  sup- 
port Congregational  churches.  Isaac  Backus  and  Noah 
Alden,  historic  Baptists,  made  heroic  and  timely  effort 
for  religious  freedom.     John  Adams,  great  statesman 


The  Territorial  Period.  2 1 

as  he  was,  opposed  them  with  a  bitterness  Httle  short 
of  mahgnity.  He  regarded  the  abrogation  of  the  law 
of  gravitation  as  much  within  the  Hmits  of  the  natural 
and  the  possible  as  separation  of  church  and  state.  But 
Backus  and  Alden,  aided  by  Dr.  Manning,  a  learned 
Baptist  minister,  educator  and  statesman,  were  not  to 
be  repelled  by  the  prowess  of  the  great  political  leader 
and  master  statesman. 

Noah  Alden,  a  descendent  of  the  Plymoth  settlers, 
was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  constitutional  con- 
vention in  i78o,  and  at  the  same  time  pastor  of  the  Bap- 
tist church  at  Billingsham.  As  a  member  of  the  Mass- 
achusetts convention  he  made  an  unsuccessful  effort  to 
relieve  the  people  of  the  state  from  state  taxation  for  the 
support  of  the  state  church.  He  was  afterwards  a 
member  of  the  convention  that  formed  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States. 

The  influence  on  the  individual  mind  of  religious 
conviction  and  church  habit  is  so  well  attested  by  the 
facts  of  history  that  controversy  is  precluded.  One 
trained  to  servile  submission  to  ecclesiastical  dictation 
and  sacredotal  supervision  of  conscience  will  readily 
submit  to  state  regulation  of  religion,  particularly  if 
his  religion  has  state  recognition.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  mind  trained  to  independence  of  religious  thought 
and  individual  participation  in  church  business  will 
never  consent  to  state  interference,  though  his  church 
should  be  proffered  the  hand  of  the  state.  Baptists  have 
been  wooed  by  the  state,  but  the  suit  was  rejected. 

With  this  spirit  of  freedom  of  conscience  and  love 
of  liberty  Baptists  came  to  Missouri  in  its  territorial 
days;  they  came  the  heirs  of  heroic  ancestors  and  in- 
spired by  the  consciousness  of  an  honorable  tradition. 
Heredity  and  educational  bias  gave  trend  to  individual 
character ;  and  as  a  community  life  is  the  expression  of 
the  units  that  compose  it,  it  is  not  difficult  to  account 


22  The  Territorial  Period. 

for  the  independent  spirit  and  democratic  views  of  Mis- 
souri Baptists.  Their  heroism,  their  steadfastness  in 
the  faith  and  their  exaltation  of  the  church  as  the  inde- 
pendent and  sole  representative  of  the  Christ  are  the 
emphasizings  of  ancestral  history  and  tradition. 

The  Missouri  Baptist  of  to-day  reviews  the  history 
of  his  denomination  in  the  happy  consciousness  that 
the  pioneer  fathers  and  mothers  were  his  people.  With 
delight  he  recounts  their  deeds  of  heroic  sacrifice.  He 
gladly  fellowships  the  "Prairie  Schooners"  that  slowly 
made  their  way  through  forests  and  across  the  prairies 
of  Indiana  and  Illinois  bearing  their  precious  cargoes  of 
lively  stones  for  the  spiritual  temple  to  be  founded  and 
builded  in  the  great  west. 

The  streams  of  emigrants  in  territorial  times 
were  to  the  present  Baptist  stronghold  in  Missouri  as 
are  the  mountain  streamlets  to  the  great  river,  over 
which  the  forefathers  had  to  cross  to  reach  the  land  that 
invited  them  from  their  homes  in  the  states.  The 
churches  of  the  state,  and  the  General  Association  are 
among  the  high  places  of  progress  and  prosperity  from 
which  the  Missouri  Baptist  looks  back  upon  the  train 
of  slow-moving  wagons  drawn  by  trained  horses  or 
faithful  oxen,  bearing  dauntless  men,  courageous 
women  and  wondering  children  to  the  region  of  the  deer 
and  the  buffalo,  and  more  impressively,  to  the  home  of 
the  red  man,  there  to  found  homes  and  plant  the  garden 
of  the  Lord. 

The  Baptists  of  to-day  have  builded  and  are  build- 
ing upon  foundations  laid  by  workmen  who  encounter- 
ed difficulties  and  hardships  to  which  they  are  stran- 
gers. The  heritage  of  the  present  had  for  its  price  a 
sacrifice  that  the  worker  who  builds  on  that  founda- 
tion is  not  required  by  present  conditions  to  make 
Families  and  preachers  and  deacons  of  our  early  his- 
tory defied  the  tangled  forest  and  the  trackless  prairie 


The  Territorial  Period.  23 

with  their  wild  denizens,  that  they  might  open  up  a 
field  for  future  cultivation  and  development. 

These  christian  immigrants  came  not  to  improved 
lands  where  homes  and  fields  and  orchards  and  open 
highways  and  schools  and  colleges  and  church  edifices 
tempted  them  to  lives  of  ease  and  comfort.  They 
came  to  do  the  first  work  of  transforming  the  wilder- 
ness into  a  land  of  homes  and  civilized  enterprise. 
.  Houses  must  be  built.  Saw  mills  and  brick  kilns  and 
builders  and  masons  are  not  yet  features  of  the  new 
busy  life.  Rude  log  cabins  constructed  of  unhewn 
timber  from  the  generous  forest  are  hurriedly  piled 
without  architect  or  skilled  joiners,  such  home  force 
as  is  capable  of  using  the  axe  for  felling  the  timber 
and  cutting  the  logs  into  proper  lengths,  and  then  the 
house  raising — a  festive  occasion  when  neighborly 
spirits  and  helping  hands  make  a  joyous  recreation  of 
gratuitous  labor;  thus  homes  dotted  the  wilds  at  the 
hands  of  fellow  pioneers.  Chimneys  of  sticks  and  mud 
built  upon  rough  stone  base  must  answer  the  purpose 
of  draft  and  flue.  Board  floors  are  out  of  the  question. 
Puncheons  made  by .  splitting  logs  in  twain,  with  the 
flat  side  upturned  must  keep  the  feet  of  the  dwellers 
from  the  ground — tapestry,  three-ply,  Brussels  and 
Axminster  floor-coverings  are  not  so  much  as  visions 
of  night  dreams.  The  roof  of  the  house  is  made  of 
clap-boards  rived  from  native  oaks  and  held  on  to 
horizontal  pole  rafters  by  skids,  or  wooden  pegs.  A 
small  "clearing"  is  made  for  the  beginning  of  agricul- 
ture. Bread  stufif  and  a  few  vegetables  are  all  that  is 
contemplated.  The  forest  and  the  prairie  aflford  food  for 
live  stock,  and  meat  for  the  family. 

It  is  not  in  the  least  degree  improbable  that  these 
crude  and  physically  rude  cabin  homes  of  the  territory 
were  the  abodes  of  as  ereat  contentment  and  as  much 


24  The  Territorial  Period. 

domestic  love,  purity  and  happiness  as  are  to  be  found 
in  many  of  the  palatial  residences  that  have  supplanted 
them.  Material  progress  is  an  essential  feature  of  a 
progressive  civilization,  but  the  experience  of  ages 
has  demonstrated  that  human  virtue  and  happiness  are 
not  necessary  sequences  of  physical  prosperity.  It  is 
not  improbable  of  demonstration  that  pioneer  civiliza- 
tion has  more  of  the  resources  for  domestic  felicity 
than  has  the  physical  display  incident  to  opulence. 
The  older  inhabitants  of  our  own  state  who  can  from 
memory  recall  the  earlier  days  of  Missouri  life  love  to 
dwell  upon  the  good  old  days  when  hospitality  and 
neighborly  good  will  gave  real  pleasure  to  social  in- 
tercourse. 

One  sad  inconvenience  of  pioneer  life  was  the  in- 
frequency  of  the  mails,  and  the  remoteness  of  post- 
offices  from  the  "Settlements."  It  is  within  the  recol- 
lection of  men  not  older  than  many  who  live  to-day  in 
Missouri,  when  a  journey  of  sixty  or  eighty  miles  had 
to  be  made  to  reach  a  postoffice.  To  receive  a  letter 
in  a  settlement  was  an  event  of  far  greater  interest  than 
the  arrival  of  the  daily  paper  to-day.  The  letter  was 
talked  about;  neighbors  called  to  hear  from  the  old 
Kentucky  home,  or  from  the  Blue  Ridge  or  Shenandoah 
Valley.  Frequently  these  letters  were  the  occasion  of 
great  joy,  and  occasionally  of  sorrow  and  sadness. 
The  writer  of  the  letter  would  tell  all  the  items  of  inter- 
est concerning  acquaintances  and  friends  left  behind 
by  the  adventurous  pioneers.  This  gave  to  these  epis- 
tles a  general  interest. 

The  ministers  of  the  gospel  devoted  their  Sab- 
baths, and  such  other  time  as  could  be  spared  from  the 
struggle  for  existence,  to  ministering  to  the  spiritual 
wants  of  their  fellow  pioneers.  In  the  winter  season 
the  cabin  homes  of  the  settlers  must  serve  as  sanctu- 
aries for  worship  and    for   dispensing   the  word.     In 


The  Territorial  Period.  2  5 

summer  and  early  autumn  religious  gatherings  were  in 
the  shades  of  the  forest.  The  coming  of  a  preacher 
into  a  settlement  was  an  event  of  social  as  well  as  relig- 
ious interest.  No  palace  car  carried  him  forty  miles  an 
hour,  to  be  met  at  a  station  with  an  elegant  "rig"  to  con- 
vey him  to  a  place  of  preaching,  and  thence  to  a  man- 
sion for  sumptuous  dining.  He  traveled,  if  not  on 
foot,  on  a  faithful  saddle  "nag"  that  had  learned  pa- 
tience from  afflictive  experience.  The  preaching  was 
not  an  exhibit  of  "much  learning  ;"not  a  studied  display 
of  elocution  and  artistic  gesticulation;  not  the  reading 
of  a  literary  essay ;  not  a  display  of  oratorical  pyrotech- 
nics, nor  an  "improvement  of  the  latest  sensation ;  but 
a  plain,  earnest  and  affectionate  presentation  of  the 
Old  Old  Story."  He  spoke  for  the  comfort  and  the 
edification  of  the  believer,  and  to  warn  and  persuade 
the  unbeliever.  These  old  time  sermons  were  enriched 
by  the  personal  experience  of  sin  and  grace  from  the 
preacher's  own  heart.  Men  and  women  were  moved 
to  seek  and  serve  Christ.  Services  were  seldom  closed 
without  giving  the  penitent  believer  an  opportunity  to 
confess  Christ  before  men.  The  singing  was  not  done 
by  a  chosen  few  who  esteemed  it  an  infringement  of 
their  "copy  right"  for  others  to  praise  God  in  sacred 
song.  No  soloist  with  more  of  art  than  of  music 
claimed  a  monopoly  of  song  service,  but  all  the  people 
praised  God,  making  melody  in  their  hearts,  unto  the 
Lord. 

These  primitive  meetings  led  on  to  the  building  of 
houses  of  worship.  These  edifices  were  not  monu- 
ments to  architectural  aesthetics  and  builders'  skill. 
No  arched  portals  nor  ponderous  domes  nor  cloud- 
kissing  spires  adorned  these  temples  to  the  living  God. 
No  paneled  ceilings  from  which  were  pendant  massive 
chandeliers,  no  massive  pews  with  hard-wood  carved 
ends  and  backs,  and  upholstered  seats  tempted  to  luxu- 


26  The  Territorial  Period. 

rious  worship.  These  church  houses  were"home  made." 
The  stately  trees  of  the  forest  were  felled  by  the  hands 
of  the  disciples  of  Him  who  stood  on  Judea's  hills  and 
on  Gallilee's  shores  to  proclaim  himself  the  way,  the 
truth  and  the  life.  These  trees  were  worked  into  hewn 
logs  of  given  dimensions  by  the  followers  of  the  carpen- 
ter's son.  The  brethren  and  friends  gathered  for  a 
house  raising,  and  a  house  was  builded  unto  the  Lord. 
The  roof  was  of  clap-boards,  its  seats  were  puncheons 
with  peg-legs,  its  windows  were  not  of  gorgeous  cathe- 
dral glass,  its  illumination  was  from  candles  held  in  tin 
holders  hung  to  wooden  pegs  or  nails  in  the  side  walls 
or  in  the  columns  that  supported  the  roof  girder.  No 
grand  organ  pealed  forth  its  tremulous  notes  in  long 
and  solemn  prelude,  but  celestial  notes  from  God-made 
harps  offered  praises  unto  the  Lamb  slain  from  the 
foundations  of  the  world.  When  services  were  held 
at  night,  and  there  was  no  moon  to  light  up  the  out 
doors,  the  dismissed  congregation,  in  wagons,  on 
horse  back  and  some  a  foot  would  follow  the  beaming 
light  from  blazing  torch  carried  by  some  sturdy 
young  man  who  took  pleasure  in  driving  off  the  hide- 
ous darkness,  that  returning  worshippers  might  not  be 
lost  in  the  tangled  forest. 

Thus  our  forefathers  in  Israel  builded  better  than 
they  knew.  The  heritage  they  left  to  the  workers  of 
to-day  is  a  wealth  of  generous  opportunities  and  mag- 
nificent possibilities. 

As  population  increased,  and  the  preaching  force 
was  reinforced,  churches  increased  in  membership  by 
letter  and  by  experience  and  baptism.  New  settlements 
were  founded,  and  as  a  result  church  organizations 
were  multiplied.  This  progress  suggested  the  organ- 
ization of  associations.  The  missionary  spirit  was 
neither  prevalent  nor  forceful.  It  is  something  of  a 
puzzle  to  a  student  of  the  Bible  that  anti-missionaries 
should  desire  an  association  of  churches.     What  can 


The  Territorial  Period.  27 

be  the  aim  of  such  associations  is  a  riddle.  Perhaps 
they  are  "Baptistic,"  and  that  is  regarded  as  sufficient 
explanation. 

Howbeit,  associations  were  formed;  first,  Bethel 
Association  in  Southeast  Missouri;  the  next  was  Mis- 
souri, now  St.  Louis  Association,  then  came  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant. These  were  soon  followed  by  others.  But  it  is 
not  the  plan  of  this  work  to  give  a  history  of  district 
associations.  The  foregoing  are  barely  mentioned  as 
indicating  the  progress  of  the  work  in  the  territorial 
period,  and  as  indicating  the  steps  that  led  up  to  the 
organization  of  the  General  Association. 

It  is  pertinent  to  this  part  of  our  subject  to  remind 
the  reader  that  during  the  territorial  period  there  came 
into  the  state  Baptist  General  Missionaries.  Promi- 
nent among  these  were  John  M.  Peck  and  James  E. 
Welsh.  These  were  remarkable  men.  The  physical 
and  mental  characteristics  of  these  men — though 
widely  different  in  some  respects — eminently  fitted 
them  for  pioneer  missionaries.  The  hardships  to  be 
endured,  the  rebuffs  to  be  encountered,  the  hindrances 
to  be  tactfully  manipulated  and  the  obstacles  to  be  over- 
come required  more  than  mere  preaching  talent.  These 
men  were  not  aided  in  their  work  in  and  about  St. 
Louis  by  an  atmosphere  of  christian  thought,  they 
were  not  supported  by  an  educated  respect  for  the 
sanctuary,  nor  by  reverence  for  the  protestant  min- 
istry. French  infidelity  in  St.  Louis  had  decreed  that 
the  Sabbath  should  not  cross  the  Mississippi  river 
westward. 

In  the  southeast  part  of  the  state  the  anti-mission- 
ary spirit  was  unfavorable  to  an  aggressive  work. 
But  these  men  of  God,  undaunted  by  the  multiplicity 
of  stubborn  obstacles,  pushed  forward  their  work,  and 
to  them  in  no  small  measure  is  the  Baptist  cause  in 
Missouri  indebted  to-day  for  strength  and  influence  of 
the  denomination. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE   BEGINNING  OF   THE   GENERAL  ASSOCIATION. 

We  have  hurriedly  driven  over  a  long  road  of 
varied  scenery  to  reach  the  point  from  which  it  is  hoped 
we  may  drive  in  a  more  direct  line  to  the  end  of  our 
historic  excursion.  The  civil  conditions  have  some- 
what changed — Missouri  has  become  a  state.  In 
1818  the  legislature  for  the  territory  of  Missouri  made 
application  to  the  congress  of  the  United  States  for 
admission  into  the  United  States  as  a  state.  The  for- 
mal presentation  of  this  application  to  the  congress  was 
the  signal  for  a  long  and  heated  and  accrimonious  con- 
test which  continued  until  August  10,  1821,  when  Pres- 
ident Monroe  issued  a  proclamation  declaring  the  ad- 
mission of  Missouri  as  a  state.  The  controversy  in 
congress  incited  by  Missouri's  application  for  state- 
hood was  the  occasion  of  much  excitement,  indignation 
and  suspension  of  progress  of  general  material  interest 
in  the  waiting  territory.  The  controversy  grew  out  of 
the  slavery  question. 

Though  the  beginning  of  the  General  Association 
of  Missouri  Baptists  was  in  1834,  thirteen  years  after 
Missouri's  birth  as  a  state,  social  and  religious  condi- 
tions had  not  made  material  advance  upon  the  territo- 
rial conditions.  The  white  population  of  the  state  at 
the  time  of  its  admission  into  the  Union  was  about 
50,000.  The  total  population  in  1824  was  62,000, 
about  5,000  of  which  was  in  St.  Louis.  In  1832  the 
population  of  St.  Louis  was  about  7,ooo.  In  1834  the 
population  of  the  whole  state  did  not  exceed  250,000, 
estimated  on  the  basis  of  population  in   1840,  which 

28 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.        29 

was  381,102.  The  larger  part  of  the  population  of 
the  state  outside  of  St.  I.ouis,  was  in  the  central  coun- 
ties, now  known  as  Howard,  Boone,  Callaway,  Cooper, 
Randolph,  Chariton  and  some  others.  This  fact  of 
population  may  explain  why  Callaway  county  has  the 
honor  of  the  natal  home  of  the  General  Association,  and 
Cooper  county  the  honor  of  the  christening  of  the  or- 
ganization, as  it  now  is. 

The  progress  of  religion  and  the  growth  of  the 
churches  in  Missouri  from  the  time  of  application  for 
statehood  in  1818  up  to  the  organization  of  the  "Cen- 
tral Society"  (now  General  Association)  in  1834,  was 
retarded  not  only  by  the  bitter  agitation  of  the  slavery 
question  throughout  the  United  States,  occasioned  by 
the  Missouri  question,  but  also  by  the  trotiblesome 
presence  of  wandering  Indian  tribes,  the  presence  of  the 
IMormons  and  the  Mormon  war,  the  visitation  of  chol- 
era in  1832  that  raged  with  fearful  fatality  in  St.  Louis 
and  created  much  alarm  in  the  rural  districts  Never- 
theless, during  these  perilous  times  such  intrepid  sol- 
diers of  the  cross  as  Jeremiah  Vardeman,  Fielding 
Wilhite,  Thos.  Fristoe,  Wm.  H.  Mansfield,  Ebenezer 
Rogers,  Anderson  Woods,  James  Suggett  and  others 
were  boldly  fighting  the  battles  for  the  Truth  and 
holding  forth  the  word  of  Life. 

At  the  time,  of  which  we  now  write,  conditions 
had  not  materially  changed  from  the  territorial  condi- 
tions. Mails  were  still  infrequent  and  postoffices  re- 
mote from  many  of  the  settlements,  modes  of  convey- 
ance were  limited  to  such  as  meager  private  fortunes 
could  provide.  Homes  were  primitive  and  methods 
of  living  were  simple  and  unpretentious,  churches  were 
few  in  number  and  at  considerable  distances  one  from 
the  other.  The  reader  of  to-day  can  scarcely  realize 
the  disadvantages  and  hardships  to  which  the  preach- 
ers of  the  earlier  davs  of  our  historv  in  Missouri  were 


30        The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

subjected.  Indeed  there  are  persons,  not  a  few,  out- 
side of  our  state  who  are  still  in  unblissful  ignorance  of 
the  wonderful  progress  the  state  has  made  in  all  condi- 
tions that  make  social  and  material  civilization.  These 
— though  intelligent — know  but  little  of  our  magnifi- 
cent cities,  our  thousands  of  elegant  homes,  and  mag- 
nificent farms  in  every  part  of  the  commonwealth,  our 
numerous  and,  in  many  instances,  commodious  and 
elegant  church  houses,  our  thriving  and  useful  col- 
leges, our  magnificent  State  University  and  unsur- 
passed common  school  system,  and  7,ooo  miles  of  rail- 
road. 

A  striking  illustration  of  the  misapprehension  of 
Missouri  by  the  people  of  the  Eastern  States  is  in  con- 
nection with  the  writer's  own  experience.  In  1884  he 
called  upon  a  pastor  recently  settled  in  one  of  our  cities, 
from  the  east.  He  had  just  completed  his  course  at 
Rochester,  and  was  fairly  settled  in  his  work  in  Mis- 
souri. The  writer  urged  that  the  new  comer  from 
the  east  put  himself  en  rapport  with  Missouri  Baptists ; 
telling  him  that  eastern  people  were  misinformed  as 
to  the  spirit  and  manner  of  westerners.  He  said  to  him 
that  they  were  a  generous,  hospitable,  enlightened 
and  progressive  people.  He  replied,  "you  are  right; 
the  eastern  people  have  a  low  estimate  of  Missouri  and 
Missourians."  "Why" — says  he — "I  wrote  to  my 
mother  in  the  east  that  I  had  accepted  a  pastoral  call 
to  the  church  in  this  city,  and  would  have  to  proceed 
to  my  work  without  making  my  proposed  visit  to  her. 
She  wrote  to  me  in  reply,  expressing  surprise  and 
sorrow  that  I  had  decided  to  go  to  the  wild  west,  and  in- 
sisted that  I  should  not  proceed  farther  than  St.  Louis 
without  a  safe  body  guard,  lest  the  Indians  should 
capture  me."  He  further  said  that  he  had  written  to 
a  college  classmate  that  he  would  go  to  Missouri  to 
take  a  pastorate.     That  friend  answered :  "Why !  what 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Associatio)i.        31 

has  possessed  you,  after  a  long  college  and  seminary 
course,  to  begin  your  work  among  Missouri  heathen?" 
"Exactly,"  said  the  writer,  "that's  just  the  reason  I 
want  you  to  know  the  west.  I  know  what  eastern 
people  think  of  us — we  suffer  great  injustice  through 
their  enlightened  ignorance.  I  want  you  to  attend  the 
General  Association  at  Marshall  next  October,  and 
then  tell  me  your  impressions."  He  promised  he 
would  do  as  was  requested.  He  kept  his  promise.  At 
the  closing  of  that  meeting  he  freely  bore  this  testi- 
mony: "I  am  ready  to  give  you  my  impressions  of 
Missouri  Baptists."  "Well,  let's  have  them."  "I 
am,"  said  he,  "surprised,  and  I  confess  it.  I  have  never 
seen  in  New  York  or  in  New  England,  a  more  magnifi- 
cent body  of  men,  nor  such  manly  dignity  and  genuine 
courtesy  in  the  members  of  any  deliberative  assembly." 

People  afar  off  have  not  kept  pace  with  Missou- 
ri's rapid  strides  in  the  march  of  progress,  and  even  to- 
day Missouri  and  Missouri  Baptists  are  not  understood 
by  the  people  who  complacently  wrap  themselves  in  the 
mantle  of  their  own  conceits  and  flatter  themselves  it 
is  wise  not  to  know. 

For  some  years  prior  to  1834  there  were  some 
Baptist  preachers  in  Missouri — some  of  whose  names 
are  given  in  this  chapter — who  traversed  large  sections 
of  the  state  preaching  the  gospel  at  their  own  charges. 
These  men,  in  the  early  thirties,  became  impressed  by 
frequent  observations  of  the  religious  condition  of  the 
sections  visited  that,  measures  should  be  taken  to  more 
effectually  supply  the  religious  destitution.  Anderson 
Woods  and  Wm.  H.  Mansfield,  who  labored  much  to- 
gether, frequently  discussed  this  matter  between  them- 
selves and  eventually  brought  the  subject  to  the  atten- 
tion of  others.  In  1833  Thos.  Fristoe.  Fielding  Wil- 
hite  and  Ebenezer  Rogers  met  at  the  house  of  John 
Jackson,  in  Howard  county,  to  confer  together  as  to 


32        Tlie  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

some  plan  for  supplying  the  spiritual  wants  of  a  people 
ready  to  hear  the  message  of  love,  redemption  and  sal- 
vation. The  hearts  of  these  men  of  God  were  bur- 
dened. "What  can  be  done?  We  are  insufficient  for 
these  things  !"  Together  they  bowed  in  fervent  prayer 
seeking,  in  tears,  wisdom  and  guidance  from  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church.  Out  from  Jackson's  log  cabin 
these  three  consecrated  servants  came  with  new  hopes 
and  fresh  vigor.  They  had  determined  to  more  thor- 
oughly explore  the  field  and  themselves  do  what  they 
could  to  save  sinners  and  persuade  the  churches  to 
consider  ways  and  means  for  a  more  general  and  ef- 
fective preaching  of  the  gospel.  They  went  forth  in 
couples.  Fristoe  and  Rogers  went  north  and  east  to, 
at  least,  as  far  as  Paris  in  Monroe  county.  Wilhite  as- 
sociated with  him  A.  J.  Bartee  and  traveled  south  and 
west.  After  these  tours  of  investigation  and  work, 
they  met  again  and  resolved  upon  preliminary  steps 
for  an  organization.  They  wrote  letters  to  leading 
Baptists  of  the  state.  This  was  at  that  date  a  slow 
method  of  intercommunication.  Delay  was  inevita- 
ble. As  a  result  of  the  conference  and  correspondence 
a  meeting  was  called  for  the  twenty-ninth  of  August, 
1834,  at  Providence  church  in  Callaway  county.  At 
this  date — 1898 — such  a  meeting  would  be  called  for 
at  some  city  or  town  church  accessible  by  railroad 
passenger  transportation.  To  travel  horseback  or  in 
a  vehicle  for  fifty  or  a  hundred  miles  would  be  regarded 
as  a  hardship.  The  general  conditions  of  life  have 
much  to  do  with  the  estimates  of  labor  and  sacrifice. 
The  human  mind  with  all  of  its  wonderful  capabilities 
and  conscious  dominion  is  unconsciously  subordinated 
to  environing  conditions. 

Could   the   reader   mentally  walk   the  path  of  the 
past  for  sixty-four  years  and  place  himself  in  the  forest 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.        33 

on  the  gentle  slopes  a  few  miles  from  the  town  of  Ful- 
ton, in  Callaway  county,  and  observe  grave  elders  and 
hopeful  youths  approaching  on  horseback — a  few  in 
vehicles — a  neat  church  house  constructed  of  native 
wood  and  nestling  in  the  shades  of  stately  oaks  and 
elms  and  maples  and  wild  cherry,  and  then  watch  these 
men  as  they  dismounted  and  assist  the  few  faithful 
women  from  their  saddles,  and  carriages  and  then  tie 
the  horses  to  leaning  boughs  and  near  by  saplings,  and 
receive  the  hearty  greetings  of  the  waiting  members  of 
the  rural  church,  he  would  ask  himself:  "what  means 
this  unusual  commotion?  It  is  not  a  funeral  occasion, 
surely  not  a  prayer  meeting,  there  are  no  indications 
of  a  Avedding  and  no  semblance  to  a  political  gather- 
ing, and  yet  it  is  a  week  day."  He  could  scarcely  cast 
his  mind  forward  half  a  century  and  behold  a  great 
throng  of  people  gathering  in  the  town  of  IMarshall  to 
be  greeted  by  a  noble  pastor  and  generous  people  to  a 
celebration  of  the  scene  upon  which  he  was  gazing ;  nor 
would  he  then  and  there  forecast  the  mighty  results  of 
that  little  gathering,  upon  the  social,  religious  and  ed- 
ucational development  of  an  empire  state  and  prosper- 
ous commonwealth.  In  the  evolutionarv  forces  of 
the  Kingdom  that  is  to  have  no  end,  it  is  ever  true  that 
the  grain  of  mustard  seed  shall  develop  into  the  shelter- 
ing tree.  There  is  possible  danger  that  in  days  of  vast 
movements,  rapid  changes  and  sudden  results,  even 
christians  may  learn  to  despise  the  day  of  small  things, 
and  thereby  overlook  the  law  of,  first  the  blade,  then 
the  stalk  and  then  the  full  grown  corn  in  the  ear. 
This  inherent  principle  of  expansion  is  even  in  this 
day  of  progress  overlooked  by  some  good  brethren  who 
fret  themselves  because  of  the  comprehensive  work  ot 
the  General  Association  and  the  benevolent  enterprises 


3 


34        The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

of  the  local  churches.  But  it  should  never  be  forgot- 
ten that  the  church  of  Christ  is  in  the  world  for  the 
world's  enlightenment  and  uplifting. 

The  meeting  at  Providence  effects  an  organization 
by  calling  Rev.  Jeremiah  Vardeman  to  preside.  This 
makes  that  wonderful  man  of  God  the  first  Moderator 
of  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association.  This  en- 
titles the  Association  from  its  very  beginning  to  most 
respectful  and  reverential  recognition  in  the  history  of 
a  great  state.  Mr.  Vardeman  was  by  birth  a  Virginian. 
He  was  born  in  that  state  July  8,  i775.  His  ancestors 
were  natives  of  Sweeden.  When  he  was  four  years 
old  his  parents  moved  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky. 
The  circumstances  of  his  early  life  inured  him  to  toil 
and  hardships.  The  conditions  of  life  were  such  as  to 
develop  a  self-reliant  spirit  in  a  child  and  youth  of 
good  natural  endowments.  The  new  home  of  the  Var- 
deman family,  like  that  of  others  in  the  earlier  settle- 
ment of  Kentucky,  had  to  be  defended  against  the 
murderous  hostility  of  the  red  man.  Young  Varde- 
man was  frequently  left  at  home  while  his  older  broth- 
ers were  away  to  resist  the  threatened  assaults  of  the 
savages.  He,  himself,  was  frequently  sent  as  a  scout 
during  the  wars  which  were  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
victories  of  General  Wayne  in  1794. 

When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  Jeremiah  Var- 
deman made  an  open  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  and 
soon  became  a  member  of  a  Baptist  church.  This 
was  during  a  great  revival  of  religion  which  began  in 
Kentucky  in  1792.  Coincident  with  his  conversion  he 
had  strong  impressions  to  preach  the  gospel,  but  with- 
out education  he  felt  himself  insufficient  for  the  work, 
and  set  about  to  overcome  his  impressions  of  dutv. 
To  deliberately  resist  such  impressions  requires  a  sup- 
pression of  conscience,  and  this  once  accomplished  as 
to  any  one  sense  of  duty  opens  the  door  to  a  compro- 


REV.    JEREMIAH    VARDEMAN, 
First  Moderator,  1834-5. 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.        35 

mise  with  conscience  as  to  many  other  questions. 
So  it  proved  with  Young  Vardeman.  Step  by  step  he 
became  the  leader  in  all  manner  of  frivolous  amuse- 
ments in  the  rustic  neighborhood.  He  joined,  as  a 
pupil,  a  dancing  class.  In  his — to  him — slight  de- 
partures from  christian  rectitude  he  was  encouraged 
by  the  unchristian  youths  of  the  neighborhood.  He, 
being  naturally  gifted  in  music,  soon  became  an  expert 
violinist.  His  services  were  now  in  general  demand. 
His  hilarious  and  generous  nature  made  of  him  an 
easy  victim  to  the  designs  of  his  sinful  associates. 
Church  members  who  were  more  prompt  to  censure 
than  to  recover,  made  haste  to  predict  his  utter  down- 
fall. But  his  faithful  and  loving  mother  said  "No !  I 
know  Jerry  will  be  reclaimed;  God  is  faithful,  and  he 
will  answer  my  prayers."  Eternity  alone  can  open  the 
records  of  the  fruits  for  Christ  from  the  faithfulness 
and  prayers  of  loving  mothers.  If  it  were  not  for  their 
steadfastness  of  hope  and  perseverance  of  faith  it  can 
not  be  told  the  wrecks  of  human  character  the  awful 
future  would  reveal.  This  recession  from  christian 
integrity  lasted  three  years,  when  the  young  backslider 
was  brought  to  remorseful  repentance  by  the  pungent 
preaching  of  one  Thomas  Hansford,  an  unlettered  Bap- 
tist preacher.  Speaking  of  Hansford's  sermon  in  after 
years,  Vardeman  said  to  J.  M.  Peck:  "If  Bro.  Hans- 
ford had  poured  coals  of  fire  over  my  naked  body  it 
would  not  have  burned  me  worse  than  that  sermon 
did." 

Following  this  reclamation  was  a  return  of  con- 
victions to  preach  the  gospel.  These  impressions 
troubled  the  young  man.  He  craved  an  experience  of 
pardon  for  his  sinful  wanderings,  but  he  did  not  want 
to  devote  his  life  to  preaching.  But  the  hour  had  come, 
God's  time  for  using  him  was  at  hand.  After  mucli 
agony  of  soul  he  yielded  to  the  heavenly  mandate.     Out 


Tlic  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

of  the  rough  ashler  God  was  carving  a  poHshed  shaft. 
Soon  after  this  trying  experience  the  young  man  was  at 
a  prayer  meeting.  The  spirit  constrained  him  to  speak. 
To  his  former  associates  he  confessed  his  short-com- 
ings and  sinful  waywardness,  and  with  flowing  tears 
exhorted  them  to  repent.  At  a  second  prayer  meeting- 
he  was  requested  to  speak.  The  hearers  were  soon  in 
tears  and  a  number  of  the  unconverted  earnestly  be- 
sought him  to  pray  for  them.  He  had  never  attempted 
prayer  in  public,  but  the  sobs  and  moans  of  the  peni- 
tent overcame  his  timidity,  and  he  cried  at  the  mercy 
seat  for  his  friends. 

Following  these  evidences  of  the  divine  dealings 
with  the  returned  prodigal,  the  church  was  not  slow  to 
restore  him  to  fellowship  and  to  license  him  to  "exer- 
cise his  gifts."  He  did  not  delay  his  new  work.  God 
greatly  honored  his  preaching.  In  Kentucky,  at  Lex- 
ington, Louisville  and  Bardstown ;  in  Nashville,  Tenn., 
where  there  was  no  Baptist  church,  the  young  preacher 
went,  and  with  power  rarely  given  to  man,  he  pro- 
claimed the  glad  tidings.  Men  of  professional  distinc- 
tion and  women  of  culture  and  social  prominence  were 
swayed  by  his  pathos  and  brought  to  cry  for  salvation. 
There  were  four  hundred  converted  at  Nashville.  As 
results  of  his  meetings  at  each  of  the  places  above 
named,  a  church  was  constituted,  and  at  each  place 
from  that  day  to  this  the  Baptist  cause  has  flourished. 

After  much  affectionate  and  effective  work  in 
Kentucky,  Mr.  Vardeman  moved,  in  1830  to  Missouri, 
and  founded  a  home  in  Ralls  county.  He  threw  him- 
self with  his  lingering  energy  into  the  work  in  this  state. 
The  great  name  that  preceded  him  hither  and  his  de- 
vout zeal  soon  drew  to  him  the  love  and  veneration  of 
his  Missouri  brethren.  His  labors  were  blessed  and  his 
name  was  honored. 


The  Bcginn'mg  of  tJic  General  dissociation.        37 

On  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May,  1842,  the 
mighty  man  of  God  called  his  family  around  him,  gave 
some  directions  as  to  business  matters,  bade  his  loved 
ones  farewell,  and  as  a  child  falling  asleep  went  to  see 
Jesus  and  meet  Hansford  and  the  old  blind  preacher, 
David  Thomas,  and  8,000  whom  he  had  baptized. 

Rev.  R.  S.  Thomas  was  chosen  secretary  of  the 
meeting  at  Providence  Church  in  1834.  Concerning 
this  man  of  God,  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham,  in  an  address 
delivered  at  the  semicentennial  of  the  General  Associ- 
ation in  1884,  says:  "He  graduated  at  Transylvania 
University  and  afterwards  at  Yale  College.  He  was 
born  June  20,  1805,  and  came  to  Missouri  in  1824.  He 
immediately  proceeded  to  consecrate  all  of  his  talents 
to  Christ.  Although  he  filled  successfully  the  positions 
of  professor  in  the  Columbia  College  and  the  chair  of 
English  Literature  in  the  Missouri  University,  yet  the 
great  desire  of  his  heart  and  the  great  work  of  his  life 
was  to  preach  Christ  to  the  perishing  multitudes. 
In  company  with  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  he 
planned  missionary  campaigns,  and  mostly  at  his  own 
charges  he  went  among  the  destitute,  visited  the  poor 
churches,  labored  to  encourage  the  desponding,  to 
strengthen  the  feeble,  to  reclaim  the  backslider,  to  in- 
crease the  spirituality  and  devotion  of  the  churches, 
and  above  all  to  win  the  dying  sinner  to  Jesus.  He 
was  a  man  of  deep  piety,  warm  and  gushing  sympathies 
and  continually  prompted  by  an  earnest,  disinterested 
love  for  those  who  were  perishing  out  of  Christ. 
.  .  .  Thomas  was  president  of  William  Jewell  Col- 
lege from  1853  to  1855,  when  he  resigned  that  position 
on  account  of  the  financial  embarrassment  of  the  insti- 
tution. He  then  removed  to  Kansas  City  and  organ- 
ized a  Baptist  church  in  that  place.  He  continued  the 
beloved  pastor  of  this  flock  until  a  short  while  before 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  summer  of  1859." 


3S        The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

With  such  a  moderator  as  Vardeman,  and  such  a 
clerk  as  Thomas,  and  with  such  members  as  a  Hurly, 
a  Rogers,  a  Flood,  a  Longan,  a  Scott,  a  Wilhite,  a 
Woods,  a  McQuie  and  a  Suggett  (each  of  whom  will 
receive  becoming  attention  further  along),  it  may  be 
said  without  vanity  or  presumption  that,  no  convention 
or  association  of  equal  numbers — be  it  civil  or  ecclesi- 
astical— in  the  history  of  any  country  can  boast  a 
more  cultured,  able  and  worthy  personnel.  While 
the  successful  work  and  honorable  name  of  the  Mis- 
souri Baptist  General  Association  are  the  work  of 
God,  His  wisdom  is  seen  in  the  selection  of  instrumen- 
talities for  its  inauguration. 

Besides  the  ministers  present  at  this  initial  meet- 
ing there  were  several  men  not  of  the  pulpit,  one  of 
whom  was  Jeremiah  B.  Vardeman,  a  son  of  the  moder- 
ator. This  brother  was  permitted  to  attend  the  semi- 
centennial meeting  in  1884,  and  as  a  survivor  of  the 
original  meeting  and  in  honor  of  his  venerated  father 
he  was  invited  to  a  seat  beside  the  moderator  of  that 
meeting.  A  few  years  subsequently  the  dear  brother 
was  taken  to  his  father. 

So  far  as  known,  or  can  now  be  ascertained,  the 
only  surviving  attendant  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  be- 
loved General  Association  is  Mrs.  Mildred  M.Williams, 
of  Kansas  City,  Missouri.  •  At  the  age  of  twelve  years 
she  accompanied  her  parents  in  a  trip  from  Paris,  Mis- 
souri, to  Providence  Church  to  attend  the  great  meet- 
ing. This  excellent  lady  who  is  now  about  seventy-five 
years  of  age  has  a  vivid  and  pleasing  recollection  of 
the  journey.  She  has  kindly  furnished  the  author 
with  the  following  notes : 

"When  a  child  of  only  twelve  years  of  age  I  went 
with  my  parents  to  the  first  meeting  of  the  Missouri 
Baptist  General  Association  held  at  the  meeting  house 
known    as    Providence  Church,    in  Callaway  county. 


MRS.  MILDRED  M.  WILLIAMS, 

The  only  survivor  of  the   Brick"  Providence   meeting,  held 
[^  August,  1834 — See  chapter  III. 


TJie  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.        39 

Missouri.  Although  1  was  so  young  I  well  remember 
to-day  many  of  the  incidents  of  that  long,  tedious  and 
hot  journey  across  the  grand  prairie,  beneath  the  blaz- 
ing rays  of  an  August  sun  and  over  an  almost  trackless 
region.  In  my  mind's  eye  I  can  now  reproduce  the 
appearance  of  some  of  those  most  prominent,  deter- 
mined, hopeful  ones  while  on  this  journey  of  self-sacri- 
fice and  trials. 

"Their  work,  their  memory,  and  their  mission 
should  never  be  forgotten.  They  were  strong  men, 
and  true,  full  of  faith  in  God  and  the  Gospel  of  our 
Lord  and  Savior  Jesus  Christ.  They  possessed  cour- 
age and  went  forward,  ready  and  willing  to  make  any 
sacrifice  for  the  cause. 

"The  work  of  this  grand  old  body  of  pioneers  has 
entailed  upon  us,  the  duty  and  privilege,  of  working  and 
praying  for  Missions  and  the  cause  of  ministerial  ed- 
ucation both  at  home  and  abroad. 

"On  a  journey  of  so  many  miles,  at  that  season  of 
the  year,  we  had  to  resort  to  every  stratagem  to  break 
the  monotony.  There  were  many  little  pleasantries 
and  surprises  constantly  occurring.  It  was  a  jolly, 
happy  crowd  of  people.  In  the  party  there  were  several 
who  were  exceedingly  fond  of  playing  all  sorts  of  prac- 
tical jokes  and  telling  funny  anecdotes.  I  can  remem- 
ber very  well  how  heartily  all  laughed  at  Brother  Noah 
Flood  who  always  had  something  interesting  and 
jolly.  And  among  others  I  remember  the  eccentric 
but  gifted  Rev.  Wm.  Hurley,  an  Englishman  and  a 
bachelor  who  rode  a  roan  horse  named  Trojan.  He 
was  constantly  teasing  and  joking  old  Brother  Peck 
of  Illinois,  who  was  a  Colporteur  and  who  had  a  wagon 
load  of  tracts  and  bibles  he  was  taking  to  the  Associa- 
tion. One  memorable  instance  to  me  of  the  trip  was 
that  after  we  had  gone  some  distance  in  my  father's 
carriage  I  was  put  into  old  Brother  Jeremiah  Varde- 


40       The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.. 

man's  fine  cushioned  carriage  and  given  the  front  seat 
— he  being  very  fat  had  the  back  seat  all  to  himself. 
His  son,  Jerry,  sat  outside  and  drove.  I  remember 
how  exceedingly  uneasy  the  old  gentleman  was  and 
how  fearful  he  was  of  being  shaken  up,  and  how  he 
kept  putting  his  head  out  of  the  window,  calling  to 
Jerry  not  to  drive  over  the  gopher  hills  and  buffalo 
wallows  which  abounded  on  every  side.  From  the  car- 
riage we  saw,  now  and  then,  herds  of  deer  and  some 
elk,  but  the  buffalo  trails  were  all  that  remained  to  re- 
mind us  that  they  had  once  roamed  over  the  whole 
country.  We  had  some  old  fashioned  hymn  books 
along,  and  when  Ave  stopped  for  lunch  under  shade 
trees  in  the  sight  of  some  running  stream,  we  enliv- 
ened the  scene  by  singing  some  good  old  hymns. 

"Among  the  laymen  whose  names  I  now  recollect 
were  our  family  physician.  Dr.  G.  M.  Bower,  Wm. 
Carson,  Wm.  Wright,  and  these  ministers :  Rev.  Robt. 
S.  Thomas,  Fielding  Wilhite,  Peyton  Stevens,  Noah 
Flood,  Brother  Duncan,  Anderson  Woods  (who  in 
1839  married  myself  and  my  dear  husband),  and  many 
others  whose  names  I  can  not  now  recall.  There  were 
a  large  number  of  youths  and  young  men  along,  all  on 
horseback. 

'T  can  now  distinctly  recall  the  appearance  of  this 
large  crowd  of  people,  most  all  of  whom  were  on  horse- 
back, each  one  wearing  leggings  and  carrying  saddle 
bags  on  their  horses.  As  this  large  company  traveled 
along  winding  through  the  woods  and  along  the  dim 
paths  over  the  prairie,  laughing  and  talking,  fording 
rivers,  joking  each  other,  most  all  of  them  covered  with 
dust,  here  and  there  dispersed  in  the  crowd  carriages 
filled  with  ladies,  as  I  think  of  it  now  it  presents  a  ver}- 
funny  picture.  How  different,  indeed,  do  we  go  to 
associations  now,  seated  in  Pullman  cars  running  fifty 
miles  an  hour,  and  with  all  the  conveniences  and  com- 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.        41 

forts  of  modern  travel.  But  1  believe  this  old  time 
crowd  had  a  better  time  and  enjoyed  themselves  more 
than  the  people  who  go  now-a-days  on  railroads.  .Ml 
of  the  older  people  in  this  crowd  rode  in  buggies  and 
carriages. 

"The  green  headed  flies  and  black  gnats  were  ex- 
ceedingly troublesome  on  the  prairie,  and  became  so 
very  bad  that  we  all  had  to  stop  and  rest  under  shade 
trees  in  the  middle  of  the  day  and  travel  by  night.  One 
very  pleasing  incident  to  me  was  that  an  old  gentleman 
by  the  name  of  Nichols  had  quite  a  number  of  water 
melons  in  his  wagon  and  every  now  and  then  he  would 
stop  and  cut  one  and  all  hands  were  invited  to  eat.  He 
was  a  tall,  thin  old  man  but  was  a  great  singer ;  my 
father  had  known  him  at  Fulton. 

"Little  did  we  think  when  we  started  on  this  trip 
with  a  large  crowd  of  horsemen,  ten  or  fifteen  buggies 
and  carrages,  what  we  would  have  to  overcome  in  the 
shape  of  bridle  paths,  blind  roads,  blazed  roads,  gopher 
hills,  gullies,  ant  hills,  buffalo  wallows,  stumps,  creeks 
and  rivers  without  bridges,  and  every  obstacle  to 
wheeled  vehicles.  But  we  pushed  on,  sometimes  on 
the  road  and  sometimes  off  of  it,  jolting,  jostling,  trot- 
ting up  hill  and  down  hill,  through  woods  and  forest, 
now  and  then  in  sight  of  some  cabin,  until  at  last  after 
a  tired,  wornout,  hot,  dusty  trip,  we  reached  our  desti- 
nation.    I  wish  you  could  have  seen  us. 

"They  had  a  grand  meeting  of  over  a  week's  du- 
ration, the  result  of  which  was  the  formation  of  the 
present  General  Baptist  Association  of  Missouri,  an 
organization  of  wonderful  power  for  good  in  the  Lord's 
Kingdom.  I  was  too  young  to  be  able  to  understand 
very  much  of  the  procedings  of  the  association  and 
will  not  attempt  to  go  into  any  details  as  to  sermons, 
speeches,  etc." 


42       The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

Mrs.  Williams  was  born  in  Kentucky,  December 
4,  1822.  Her  father,  Wm.  Armstrong,  moved  to  Mis- 
souri in  1825  and  settled  in  Fulton,  in  Callaway  county. 
He  had  for  years  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
in  Lexington,  Kentucky.  His  wife,  the  mother  of 
Mrs.  Williams,  was  baptized  in  Fulton  by  Theodrick 
Boulware,  and  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church 
in  that  place.  Mr.  Armstrong  was  an  enterprising, 
energetic  and  respected  citizen.  He  was  intelligently 
zealous  and  eminently  useful  as  a  church  member. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1839  to  Wil- 
liam W.  Williams  by  the  Rev.  Anderson  Woods.  This 
union  lasted  for  more  than  fifty-two  years  and  until 
dissolved  by  death's  decree,  calling  the  husband  to  the 
heavenly  home.  Prof.  W.  H.  Williams,  of  Kansas 
City,  one  of  Missouri's  best  and  most  honored  educa- 
tors, is  a  son  of  this  marriage. 

Having  written  of  the  Providence  meeting  house, 
its  location  and  the  material  of  which  it  was  built  and 
somewhat  of  the  personnel  of  the  preliminary  meeting 
held  there;  it  is  now  becoming  to  make  mention  of 
another  relict  memento.  From  one  of  the  central  col- 
umns that  supported  the  ceiling  girder  of  the  house, 
which  was  hewn  from  a  wild  cherry  tree,  a  piece  of 
which  had  been  presented  by  a  member  of  Providence 
church  (now  known  as  Brick  Providence)  to  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Harrison  Williams,  of  the  Central 
Baptist,  and  which  he  caused  to  be  made  into  a  beau- 
tiful gavel,  handsomely  silver  mounted,  and  which  was 
by  him  presented  to  the  General  Association  at  the  semi- 
centennial meeting  held  at  Alarshall  in  1884.  The 
wood  was  in  a  remarkable  state  of  preservation.  The 
presentation  speech  by  Dr.  Williams  was  in  his  char- 
acterist  chaste  style  and  Avas  beautifully  suggestive  of 
the  trials  and  triumphs  of  the  Association  for  a  half 
century.     The  Moderator,  upon  receiving  the  gavel, 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.       43 

in  behalf  of  the  Association,  called  on  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford 
of  Ford's  Christian  Repository,  to  respond  to  the  ad- 
dress of  presentation,  which  he  did  as  none  other  could 
have  done,  for  his  mind  was  full  of  associational  rem- 
iniscence, he  having  known  personally  all  of  the  lead- 
ing characters  of  the  original  meeting,  and  was  quite 
familiar  with  the  work  of  the  Association  for  many 
years.  Upon  a  silver  tablet  riveted  to  the  gavel  by  sil- 
ver nails  is  engraved  the  following  inscription:  "This 
gavel  from  Providence  Church,  Callaway  county.  Mo., 
where  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association  was  organ- 
ized August,  1834.  Presented  to  said  Association  at 
semicentennial  meeting,  Marshall,  Mo.,  October,  1884, 
by  Wm.  Harrison  Williams."  The  record  of  the  As- 
sociation concerning  the  presentation  of  the  gavel  is 
as  follows :  "Rev.  W.  H.  Williams,  editor  of  The  Cen- 
tral Baptist,  offered  to  the  General  Association  a  gavel 
made  of  wood  taken  from  the  old  Providence  Church 
where  the  General  Association  was  organized.  The 
gavel  to  be  used  at  this  semicentennial,  and  to  be  pre- 
served for  like  use  in  the  centennial  of  this  body." 

Nothing  can  be  more  clearly  and  certainly  attested 
than  that  the  brethren  who  conceived  the  idea  of  a  gen- 
eral organization  of  Missouri  Baptists  were  possessed 
of  a  profound  and  abiding  conviction  that  the  gospel 
is  itself  a  missionary  enterprise.  This  conviction  cer- 
tifies to  their  intelligent  perception  of  divine  truth  and 
to  a  spirit  of  disinterested  consecration  by  which  they 
were  led  to  give  their  lives,  time  and  talent  to  the  min- 
istrations of  the  word  of  God.  They  recognized  the 
divine  plan  of  a  human  instrumentality,  but  never  lost 
sight  of  the  great  truth  that  it  is  by  and  through  the 
agency  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  such  instrumentality  is 
to  be  guided  and  made  effective  in  extending  the  King- 
dom of  Christ  in  the  earth.  The  founders  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  were  further  impressed  that  the  church 


44       The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

of  Jesus  Christ  is  in  the  world  for  the  express  purpose 
of  "holding  forth  the  word  of  life"  and  seeking  the  con- 
version of  the  world  to  God  and  that  local  churches  ma)- 
effect  such  organizations  as  will  promote  cooperation  in 
this  great  enterprise.  It  was  these  convictions  that  led 
the  Providence  meeting  to  adopt  the  following  resolu- 
tions : 

(i)  Resolved,  That  we  consider  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel  the  great  and  prominent  means  which  God 
has  appointed  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  and  the 
upbuilding  of  his  church  on  earth. 

(2)  Resolved,  That  in  accordance  with  the  sen- 
timents of  our  denomination,  all  preachers  of  the  gos- 
pel whom  God  approves  must  give  evidence  that  they 
are  born  again  by  the  Spirit,  called  of  God  to  the  work, 
and  be  set  apart  by  ordination  by  the  authority  of  the 
church. 

(3)  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  all  Christians 
to  promote,  as  the  Lord  has  prospered  them,  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  to  the  destitute. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  foregoing  resolutions 
Elders  Rogers,  Scott,  Longan,  Peck  and  Thomas  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  business  for  the  meet- 
ing, and  that  they  be  required  to  draft  rules  of  decorum 
for  its  government. 

This  committee  reported  a  plan  of  constitution  as 
follows : 

PLAN  OF  A  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  i.  This  society  shall  be  known  by  the 
name  of  the  Baptist  Central  Convention  of  Missouri. 

Article  2.  The  object  of  this  society  shall  be  to 
adopt  means  and  execute  plans  to  promote  the  preach- 
ing of  the  gospel  in  the  destitute  churches  and  settle- 
ments within  the  bounds  of  the  state. 


The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association.       45 

Article  3.  It  shall  be  composed  of  those  only 
who  are  Baptists  and  in  good  standing  in  the  churches 
to  which  they  belong. 

Article  4.  The  business  of  this  convention  dur- 
ing its  recess  shall  be  conducted  by  an  executive  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  a  moderator,  recording  secretary, 
corresponding  secretary,  treasurer,  and  five  other  per- 
sons to  be  chosen  annually,  and  continue  in  office  until 
a  new  election.  The  officers  shall  perform  the  usual 
duties  of  those  officers  without  compensation,  and  the 
committee  shall  fill  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  their 
ow^n  body  during  the  recess  of  the  convention.  Meet- 
ings of  the  committee  shall  be  held  quarterly,  and  at 
any  time,  by  a  call  from  any  three  members,  who  shall 
notify  the  rest,  if  at  their  usual  residences. 

Article  5.  This  society  shall  possess  no  power 
or  authority  over  any  church  or  association.  It  for- 
ever disclaims  any  right  or  prerogative  over  doctrinal 
principles;  that  every  church  is  sovereign  and  inde- 
pendent, and  capable  of  managing  its  own  affairs  with- 
out the  interference  or  assistance  of  any  body  of  men 
(jn  earth. 

Article  6.  The  funds  contributed  by  this  soci- 
ety shall  be  wholly  derived  from  the  voluntary  contri- 
liutions  of  those  who  may  feel  disposed  to  promote  the 
objects  of  society. 

Article  7.  The  preachers  w^ho  may  be  aided  by 
the  society  must  be  men  of  good  standing  and  tried 
piety,  and  belong  to  some  Baptist  church  in  the  state. 
Article  8.  This  convention  shall  meet  annually 
on  the  Friday  before  the  third  Saturday  in  May,  at 
such  place  as  the  society  shall  designate. 

Article  9.  This  constitution  may  be  amended 
onlv  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present  at 
an  annual  meeting. 


46        The  Beginning  of  the  General  Association. 

At  this  historic  meeting  at  Providence  there  were 
present  the  following  Baptist  ministers : 

Jeremiah  Vardeman,  Ebenezer  Rogers,  Wm.  Hur- 
ley, James  Suggett,  John  B.  Longan,  Noah  Flood, 
Kemp  Scott,  Fielding  Wilhite,  Thomas  Fristoe,  Robert 
S.  Thomas,  Anderson  Woods,  Jabez  Ham,  J.  C.  Mc- 
Cutchens,  Walter  McQuie,  J.  W.  Maxie,  W.  H. 
Duvall,  and  G.  M.  Bowker.  Laymen  present,  Wm. 
Wright,  Daniel  Morse,  Wm.  Armstrong  ,J.  M.  Fiil- 
kerson,  John  Sweatman,  S.  Hiter,  M.  D.  Noland,  Sam'l 
Major,  W^m.  Dozier,  T.  S.  Tuttle  and  Jeremiah  Var- 
deman, Jr. 

There  were  a  number  of  women  present  but  the 
name  of  Mrs.  Williams  heretofore  given  in  this  chap- 
ter is  the  onlv  survivor. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  SECOND  MEETING  OF  THE  CENTRAL  SOCIETY. 
THE  ORGANIZATION  COMPLETED. 

The  meeting  at  Providence  in  August,  1834,  made 
haste  slowly.  The  active  spirits  of  that  meeting  fully 
realized  the  gravity  of  the  work  they  were  seeking  to 
inaugurate  and  fully  appreciated  the  responsibility  they 
were  assuming  and  were  not  ignorant  of  the  opposition 
they  were  to  encounter,  hence  they  proceeded  with  the 
utmost  caution.  They  did  not  complete  the  work  of 
organization,  but  only  went  so  far  as  to  survey  the  field 
and  estimate  its  demands  and  form  the  "plan  of  a  con- 
stitution" to  be  submitted  to  a  fuller  meeing  at  a  future 
time.  An  adjournment  was  had  to  Little  Bonne  Femme 
church  in  June,   1835. 

The  "plan  of  a  constitution"  (as  given  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter)  was  sent  out,  as  far  as  possible,  to  the 
churches  with  this  precautionary  note:  "Our  brethren 
who  were  not  present  will  notice  that  the  constitution 
has  not  been  adopted  nor  the  contemplated  body  yet 
organized.  This  has  been  left  for  the  next  meeting. 
.  .  .  It  is  hoped  our  brethren  will  give  the  proposed 
constitution  a  fair  and  candid  examination,  and  suggest 
such  alterations  as  they  may  deem  advisable." 

At  the  Providence  meeting  in  1834  were  two  noted 
preachers  who  declined  to  participate  in  the  proceed- 
ings, but  tried  to  dissuade  other  brethren  from  the  pur- 
poses for  which  they  had  assembled.  These  men  were 
Theoderick  Boulware  and  T.  Peyton  Stephens.  These 
gentlemen  had  been  invited  to  the  meeting  by  Ebenezer 
Rogers  and  others  interested  in  the  proposed  organized 
eflfort. 

47 


48       The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Providence  meeting 
opposition  to  the  new  movement  was  promptly  pro- 
claimed and  vigorously — even  viciously  prosecuted. 
Eld.  Boulware,  a  man  of  superior  abilities  and  com- 
manding influence,  led  the  opposition.  Eld.  T.  Pey- 
ton Stephens,  a  man  of  piety  and  excellent  reputation, 
was  Boulware's  chief  coadjutor.  Boulware  spared 
no  effort  to  excite  and  intensify  opposition  to  the 
movement  in  the  minds  not  only  of  Baptists,  but  of  the 
people  generally.  He  went  so  far  as  to  make  inflam- 
matory appeals  to  politicians,  warning  them  to  take 
heed — that  the  Providence  Baptists  did  not  propose 
to  stop  short  of  union  of  church  and  state  and  the  tax- 
ation of  the  people  for  ecclesiastical  support.  These 
statements  of  the  spirit  and  manner  of  the  opposition 
are  neither  gratuitous  nor  exaggerated.  At  the  semi- 
centennial meeting  held  in  1884,  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham, 
in  his  address  on  the  "Organizers  of  the  Associa- 
tion," quoted  from  Boulware's  autobiography,  page 
II,  the  following  words  from  Boulware's  own  pen: 
"I  received  a  letter  from  Eld.  Ebenezer  Rogers  and 
others,  inviting  me  to  attend  a  minister's  meeting  at 
Providence  on  a  certain  day,  to  adopt — missionary- 
ism — a  plan  for  the  better  support  of  the  ministry  and 
to  sustain  the  now  tottering  cause  of  Baptists.  I, 
Eld.  T.  Peyton  Stephens  and  others  met  Elders  Rogers, 
Hurley,  Longan,  Suggett,  Vardeman  and  others. 
We  advised  and  entreated  these  brethren  to  disperse 
and  not  establish  this  cockatrice  den  among  us,  from 
which  will  eminate  a  serpentine  brood,  marring  the 
peace  of  God's  children  and  bringing  much  scandal  on 
the  cause  of  Christ,  for  we  are  assured  you  have  in 
view  more  than  the  happiness  of  the  church  and  the 
salvation  of  men.  We  fear  you  are  somewhat  decep- 
tive. They  formed,  adjourned  and  met  again  and  es- 
tablished their  Central  Society,  from  which  have  re- 
sulted all  the  consequences  I  anticipated,  and  worse." 


The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society.      49 

These  words  were  written  in  1843,  "i'"^^  years 
after  the  Providence  meeting.  The  organization  begun 
at  Providence  had  regularly  held  its  successive  annual 
meetings,  these  meetings  were  marked  by  a  progress- 
ively developing  interest  in  and  manifest  benefit  to  the 
cause  represented.  The  power  of  prejudice  intensi- 
fied by  animosity  may  lead  even  a  great  mind  and  a 
good  heart  far  astray.  The  cockatrice  den  had  not 
been  formed — the  serpentine  brood  had  not  been  sent 
forth  to  mar  the  peace  of  Zion.  It  is  true,  however, 
that  under  the  leadership  of  Boulware  and  Stephens 
the  anti-missionary  Baptists  began  a  malignant  war- 
fare against  the  missionary  Baptists.  They  denounced 
the  organizers  of  the  "Central  Society"  as  mercena- 
ries, as  "hirelings,"  "money-made  preachers."  They 
made  tours  of  the  churches  and  by  ridicule,  threats  and 
intimidation  sought  to  array  them  against  the  mission- 
ary movement.  The  churches  that  aligned  themselves 
with  the  anti-missionaries  forbade  the  members  making 
contributions  to  missions.  Persons  favorable  to  mis- 
sions were  denied  membership  in  such  churches.  The 
spirit  of  persecution  was  rife  and  rabid  in  the  anti- 
missionaries.  The  cockatrices  and  serpent  broods 
were  set  agoing  by  those  who  prophecied  them.  They 
were  those  who  marred  the  happiness  of  the  churches. 
Pseudo  and  mal-prophets  will  ever  bring  about  a  ful- 
fillment of  their  evil  predictions  if  possible. 

In  these  days  of  active  christian  effort  and  vigor- 
ous missionary  enterprise,  many  christians  who  have 
grown  up  under  the  existing  order  are  amazed  that 
men  and  women  professing  faith  in  Christ  and  love  for 
Him  should  have  ever  violently  and  persistently  antag- 
onized the  missionary  enterprise.  They  find  it  dif^- 
cult  to  harmonize    such  a  spirit  with    a   profession  of 


5o      The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society. 

conversion  to  Christ.  No  wonder!  Nevertheless 
there  were  many  things  in  the  Hves  of  such  men  and 
women  to  indicate  the  love  of  God  in  their  hearts. 
They  were  misguided.  False  inferences  from  certain 
great  cardinal  truths  of  holy  scriptures,  associated 
with  influence  of  environment,  fixed  in  their  minds 
certain  views  which  they  regarded  as  in  exact  accord 
with  divine  teaching.  They  were  so  hampered  and 
cramped  by  these  influences  that  they  could  not  har- 
monize the  doctrine  of  divine  sovereignty  with  the  use 
of  means  for  the  conversion  of  souls.  Their  preach- 
ers went  forth  as  the  mere  machine  agents  for  calling 
out  the  "elect"  whose  salvation  was  assured  but  who 
must  be  separated  from  the  non-elect. 

After  all,  it  is  not  well  settled  that  these  anti-mis- 
sion Baptists  are  any  further  from  the  truth  than  the 
non-missionary  Baptist.  He  who  does  nothing  for 
missions  because  he  believes  he  ought  not  to,  is  a  little 
higher  in  the  scale  of  christian  manliness  than  he  who 
does  nothing  for  missions  because  he  don't  want  to. 

At  the  meeting  in  1835,  Jeremiah  Vardeman  was 
again  chosen  moderator,  and  William  Wright  was 
made  recording  secretary.  He  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  a  brother  of  Leland  Wright  who  for  so 
many  years  was  one  of  the  most  devoted  friends  and 
efficient  officers  of  the  General  Association,  and  also 
a  brother  of  the  distinguished  lawyer,  Uriel  Wright, 
of  St.  Louis.  William  Wright  was  reared  a  merchant 
and  continued  in  active  business  until  the  great  finan- 
cial crisis  of  about  the  year  1820,  when,  with  many 
others,  he  failed.  In  1825  he  came  to  Howard  county, 
Missouri,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but 
he  soon  abandoned  that  life  and  moved  to  Fayette, 
where  he  kept  hotel  for  several  years.  In  1830  he 
was  appointed  by  President  Jackson,  Register  at  Pal- 
myra, to  succeed  Hon.  Wm.  Carson.     His  skill  and 


The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society.       51 

fidelity  to  duties  and  trusts  continued  him  in  this  office 
for  ten  or  fifteen  years.  He  was  converted  about  the 
year  183 1  and  united  with  the  Baptist  church  at  Pal- 
myra. He  was  made  clerk  of  the  church,  and  deacon. 
In  each  of  these  relations  he  served  the  church  in  such 
manner  as  to  gather  to  himself  the  affections,  confi- 
dence and  honor  of  his  brethren.  His  education  and 
general  intelligence  gave  him  in  associational  meetings 
the  honorable  places  generally  assigned  to  the  minis- 
try, such  as  writing  "circular  letters,"  etc. 

Ero.  Wright  died  in  1843  ^^  Yazoo  City,  Missis- 
sippi, of  yellow  fever.  He  and  a  daughter  and  a  son 
died  within  three  days  of  each  other. 

The  meeting  at  Bonne  Femme  church  in  June, 
183s,  was  in  numbers  an  improvement  upon  the  meet- 
ing of  the  preceding  year:  though  not  much  business 
was  transacted,  further  than  to  complete  the  organi- 
zation. The  constitution  which  had  been  prepared  and 
submitted  by  the  Providence  meeting  was,  with  slight 
and  unimportant  amendments,  adopted.  The  name 
"Central  Society"  was  substituted  for  "Central  Con- 
vention." The  amendment  was  unfortunate.  Con- 
vention is  a  much  more  appropriate  name  than  soci- 
ety— even  better  than  the  name  association,  so  far  as 
words  or  terms  are  suited  to  manner  of  organization 
and  methods  of  procedure.  But,  if  God  be  glorified, 
the  name  is  unimportant,  except  in  so  far  as  some  may 
be  led  amiss  in  their  conception  of  the  objects  of  the 
organization.  There  are  persons — not  a  few — and 
many  of  them  men  and  women  of  fair  intelligence  who 
seem  never  to  understand  the  principles,  system  and 
purpose  of  a  Baptist  General  Association.  Many  sup- 
pose it  is  an  association  of  smaller  or  district  associa- 
tions within  a  given  state  or  other  specifically  bounded 
region  of  country.  Others  think  it  an  association  of 
churches;  while  in  point  of  fact  it  is  neither.     It  may 


52       TJic  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society. 

be  said  to  be — while  in  session — an  association  of  the 
persons  composing  it.  It  is  not  an  association  of  asso- 
ciations nor  of  churches  because  neither  of  this  class 
of  Baptists  organizations  can  delegate  their  authority 
to  another  body.  No  act  of  a  general  association  of 
Baptists  can  bind  any  other  association  or  any  church. 
An  association  without  authority  over  its  constituency 
is  a  misnomer.  A  Baptist  General  Association  has  no 
such  power  over  churches  or  other  associations,  they 
are  not  therefore  associated  with  it,  or  constituent  fac- 
tors of  its  being.  Such  an  association  has,  for  the 
purposes  of  the  orderly  conduct  of  its  business,  parlia- 
mentary authority  over  the  individual  members  com- 
posing it.  It  can  not,  however,  compel  attendance  of 
members  and  therefore  has  no  specific  established 
government.  Membership  is  purely  voluntary,  and 
therefore  absence  is  no  violation  of  law,  nor  does  it 
prevent  business  so  long  as  a  sufficient  number  is  left 
present  to  do  the  work  for  which  the  meeting  has  as- 
sembled. All  of  which  clearly  indicates  that  such  an 
organization  is  a  voluntary  convention  without  author- 
ity over  anybody  or  anything  but  itself  while  in  session. 
This  much  is  written  thus  early  in  this  book  to  dis- 
abuse the  minds  of  non-Baptists  of  the  impression  so 
common  among  brethren  of  other  denominations  that, 
our  General  Associations  are  ecclesiastical  bodies. 
They  are  not.  For  they  are  not  church  judicatures  nor 
legislatures.  They  impose  nothing  upon  the  churches 
and  decide  nothing  for  them.  They  have  no  authority 
to  make  or  unmake  ministers  of  the  gospel,  or  to  direct 
and  supervise  their  work.  In  all  such  matters  the 
local  church  is  supreme  in  its  sovereignty.  The  term 
association  is  somewdiat  misleading  even  to  Baptists 
not  w^ell  informed.  The  term  "convention"  as  it  fails 
to  suggest  any  misapprehensions  and  is  in  its  common 
usage  ample  to  meet  all  the  ends  of  organization  is 


The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society.       53 

better  than  either  "society"  or  "association."  But  as 
has  already  been  said  the  work  and  the  spirit  of  the 
workers  are  the  main  considerations,  and  any  name 
may  serve  after  the  nature  of  the  organization  becomes 
fully  understood.  Only  it  seems  that  fifty  years 
usage  ought  to  have  sufficed. 

The  Bonne  Femme  meeting  was  devoted  mainly 
to  devotional  services  and  to  preaching  of  the  word — 
an  old  time  custom  not  as  much  in  vogue  at  this  writ- 
ing as  it  should  be.  Two  influences  have  practically 
abrogated  the  custom  of  public  ministrations  of  the 
word  at  our  general  gatherings :  the  many  different 
interests  that  now  claim  and  receive  the  attention  of 
the  General  Association,  and  the  rushing  habit  and  im- 
pulsive impatience  that  great  business  in  secular  affairs 
have  given  to  the  mental  frame  of  the  people.  Lei- 
sure, even  for  meditating  the  things  that  pertain  to  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ,  is  a  thing  too  much  of  the  past. 
Money  and  personal  activity  have  forced  themselves 
as  substitutes  for  devotion.  There  should  be  no  less 
money  used  for  Christ,  and  no  less  active  enterprise, 
but  more  spiritual  devotion  and  development  of  exper- 
imental religion. 

Perhaps  no  more  beautiful  or  interesting  place 
could  have  been  selected  for  the  second  meeting  of  the 
Society  than  the  Bonne  Femme  church.  This  historic 
body  of  christians  originally  was  connected  with  Salem 
Association,  but  that  association  taking  a  decided  and 
offensive  hostile  attitude  towards  missions,  a  number 
of  the  churches  associated  with  it  withdrew  and 
formed  an  association  upon  gospel  principles.  In  this 
movement  Bonne  Femme  church  was  an  active  and 
influential  leader,  and  in  1839,  ^o"^  years  after  the 
meeting  now  under  consideration,  the  Little  Bonne 
Femme  Association  was  organized  of  Bonne  Femme, 
Columbia,  Nashville  and  Mt.  Horeb  churches. 


54       ^Va'  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society. 

The  membership  of  Bonne  Femme  church  at  the 
period  now  before  us  were  eminent  for  social  culture, 
liberal  fortunes  and  generous  hospitality.  Their  house 
of  worship  was  in  a  beautiful  grove  on  elevated 
ground — the  property  of  Mr.  Curtright — the  base  of 
which  is  watered  by  a  beautiful  stream  of  water  from 
the  name  of  which  the  church  takes  its  name.  The  En- 
glish of  the  name  is  "good  woman,"  certainly  an  excel- 
lent name  for  a  church — the  Lamb's  Bride — whatever 
may  be  its  appropriateness  or  inappropriateness  for  a 
stream  of  water.  The  church  is  located  a  little  east  of 
south  from  Columbia  and  distant  six  miles. 

At  this  same  point  was  located  Bonne  Femme 
Academy,  founded  in  1829,  afterwards,  in  1838,  char- 
tered as  a  college.  Of  this  institution  Robt.  S.  Thomas, 
a  Yale  graduate,  heretofore  mentioned,  was  the  first 
president.  The  painstaking  historian,  Hon.  W.  F. 
Switzler,  says  of  this  institution :  'Tt  was  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  and  respectable  institutions  of 
early  times."     (History  of  Missouri.) 

This  institution  is  appropriately  mentioned  in  this 
connection  as  indicative  of  the  early  recognition  of 
Baptists  as  educators,  and  as  one  among  innumerable 
historic  rebukes  to  the  flippant  charge  of  ignorance  so 
gratuitously  alleged  of  them.  It  is  further  worthy  of 
note  that  at  this  institution  Miss  Mary  Barr  Jenkins 
received  her  education,  and  afterwards  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  Henry  Hardin,  the  eminent  lawyer, 
able  legislator  and  the  most  faithful  and  efficient  gov- 
ernor of  Missouri ;  likewise  the  founder  and  liberal 
patron  of  Hardin  College  at  Mexico,  and  for  a  time 
assistant  moderator  of  the  General  Association  and 
president  of  the  Board  of  State  Missions. 

Miss  Jenkins  distinguished  herself  as  an  English, 
Greek   and   Latin   scholar,    winning   for   herself   wide 


The  Second  Meeting  of  the  Central  Society.      55 

distinction  for  her  school  girl  literary  accomplish- 
ments. But  her  greatest  worth  finds  expression  in 
her  devoted  christian  life,  her  fidelity  to  a  noble  hus- 
band, the  elegance  with  which  she  graced  the  execu- 
tive mansion,  and  now — surviving  her  husband — she 
devotes  her  time,  talent,  learning  and  fortune  to  the 
interests  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Mexico,  to  Hardin 
College,  ministerial  education,  state  missions  and  every 
other  good  work  brought  to  her  attention.  She  is  a 
living  example  of  the  consecration  of  natural  capabil- 
ities, educational  accomplishments,  distinguished  po- 
sition and  liberal  fortune  to  the  service  of  the  Savior. 
Would  that  all  christian  women  might  learn  that  a  de- 
voted christian  life  is  not  incompatible  with  social  dis- 
tinction. 

Bonne  Femme  Church  was  the  spiritual  home  of 
the  Hickmans,  the  Basses,  the  Fishers  and  the  Harrises, 
who  for  so  many  years  were  the  staunch  friends  of  the 
General  Association.  David  H.  Hickman,  at  the  time 
of  the  meeting  of  the  Central  Society  at  Bonne  Femme 
was  less  than  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  no  doubt  at- 
tended that  meeting.  If  so,  little  did  he  imagine  as  he 
looked  into  the  benignant  face  of  the  stately  Vardeman 
as  he  presided  over  the  assembly,  that  he  too,  in  twen- 
ty-one years  from  that  date  would  preside  over  the 
Missouri  Baptist  General  Association. 

'Twould  be  pleasant  to  linger  longer  about  this 
historic  ground,  but  with  this  short  chapter,  must  be 
closed  the  incidents  connected  with  and  suggested  by 
the  completion  of  the  organization  of  our  venerable  As- 
sociation. 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  DECADE  OF  PROGRESS. 
1836— 1846. 

After  the  completion  of  the  organization  at  Bonne 
Femme  Church,  the  brethren,  stiU  followed  and  bit- 
terly assailed  by  the  anti-mission  Baptists,  realized  that 
the  new  and  small  craft  which  they  had  launched  was 
to  have  no  smooth  and  straightforward  sailing.  A 
knowledge  of  the  conflict  which  their  enterprise  had 
already  provoked  drew  them  into  closer  and  more  sym- 
pathetic fellowship  and  to  a  more  pathetic  sense  of 
their  dependence  upon  Him,  without  whom  they  could 
do  nothing;  but  through  whose  strengthening  presence 
they  could  do  all  things  required  of  them.  They 
sought  no  antagonisms  and  conflicts,  but  would  shrink 
from  no  duty  nor  quail  before  any  enemy.  An  amiable 
determination  and  intelligent  conviction  of  the  right 
are  far  more  potent  weapons  in  defense  than  inflamed 
prejudice  and  a  spirit  of  bitter  contention  are  in  ag- 
gressiveness. The  little  band  of  soldiers  of  the  cross 
felt  that  God  was  for  them,  and  who  could  be  against 
them — that  their  weapons  were  not  carnal,  and  that 
through  God  they  would  be  mighty  in  the  overthrow  of 
the  strongholds  of  error. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  period  of  which  we  now 
write  there  was  no  board  to  devise  ways  and  means  for 
carrying  on  the  work,  and  no  general  agent  or  corre- 
sponding secretary  to  supervise  and  carry  forward  the 
work  of  missions.  The  preacher  brethren  who  were 
foremost  in  the  new  movement  agreed  among  them- 
selves to  do  such  voluntary  missionary  work  as  their 
other  duties  would  permit.     Fielding  Wilhite,  •  Eben- 

56 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  57 

ezer  Rogers,  A.  Ham,  Anderson  Woods,  R.  S. 
Thomas,  Thomas  Fristoe,  Noah  Flood  and  others  were 
chief  among  these  consecrated  heralds  of  the  Gospel, 
who  going  forth,  often  in  pairs,  penetrated  the  regions 
of  destitution  without  fixed  rates  of  compensation  or 
assurance  of  any  remuneration  whatever.  The  cordial 
hospitality  and  simple  fare  of  farm  homes  were  all  that 
they  could  reasonably  expect  in  return  for  their  trav- 
els, toils  and  tears.  A  suit  of  clothes,  homespun  and 
home  woven,  a  good  horse  and  saddle,  with  leather 
"saddle  pockets" — more  generally  known  as  saddle 
bags,  in  which  were  clean  linen,  Bible  and  hymn  book, 
constituted  the  clerical  (?)  equipment.  Perhaps  upon 
the  return  home  they  would  find  themselves  enriched 
by  a  few  pairs  of  woolen  yarn,  home-knit  socks,  gener- 
ously donated  by  some  good  old  sister,  and  a  few  twists 
of  "long  green"  as  expressive  of  the  good  will  of  some 
prosperous  brother.  The  saddle  bags  were  convenient 
for  the  transportation  of  these  trophies.  But  the  real 
and  quite  satisfactory  reward  was  in  the  consciousness 
that  the  Christ  had  been  with  them,  and  that  precious 
souls  had  been  numbered  with  the  hosts  of  the  saved. 
The  consciousness  of  having  been  honored  of  God  in 
instrumentally  rescuing  the  perishing  is  the  preacher's 
most  precious  reward. 

These  men  of  God,  with  the  acquisition  of  new 
friends  to  the  persecuted  cause,  held  their  third  meet- 
ing with  the  Bethlehem  church  in  Boone  county  in 
June,  1836.  At  this  meeting  John  B.  Longan  was 
chosen  moderator,  G.  M.  Bower  was  elected  recording 
secretary  and  Stephen  Wilhite  was  chosen  treasurer. 
A  short  sketch  of  each  of  these  three  men  is  demanded 
at  this  place. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Longan  was  born  in  Henrico  county, 
Virginia,  in  the  Chickahominy  region  near  the  birth- 


58  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

place  of  Henry  Clay,  about  the  year  i775.  Early  in  the 
present  century  he  moved  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
converted  and  became  a  Baptist  preacher. 

He  came  to  Missouri  at  an  early  day,  after  having 
labored  with  great  success  in  Kentucky  for  some  years. 

He  first  settled  in  Cooper  county,  and  then  moved 
to  Cole  county,  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Mon- 
iteau county,  where  he  remained  until  called  home  to 
his  great  reward. 

He  was  among  the  most  scholarly  men  of  his  day ; 
was  regarded  as  a  very  able  expositor  of  the  Word  of 
Life,  and  held  in  high  esteem  among  his  co-laborers 
in  the  ministry. 

In  doctrine  he  is  said  to  have  been  "Calvanistic," 
of  the  school  of  Andrew  Fuller  rather  than  of  Gill. 

He  was  especially  active  and  able  in  opposing  the 
doctrines  of  those  who  agreed  with  the  teachings  of 
Alexander  Campbell. 

For  four  consecutive  years  he  presided  over  the 
missionary  organization  now  called  the  General  Asso- 
ciation. We  hope  that  further  researches  may  result 
in  finding  some  statement  of  his  lifework,  such  as  will 
enable  Missouri  Baptists  to  place  upon  perpetual  record 
a  suitable  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  "true  hero  of 
the  cross." 

G.  M.  Bower,  seems,  from  the  reminiscences  of 
Mrs.  Williams  given  in  a  former  chapter,  to  have  been 
a  physician  and  to  have  resided  at  one  time  at  or  near 
Paris,  in  Monroe  county.  And  Dr.  G.  W.  Hyde  says 
of  him  in  "Semi-Centennial  Memorial"  that  he  "was 
born  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia,  December  12,  1^90, 
and  emigrated  when  quite  a  young  man  to  Kentucky. 
He  served  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
was  married  to  Martha  M.  Crockett,  of  Jessamine 
county,  Kentucky,  January  26,  181 5,  and  a  few  years 
afterwards  united  with  the  Baptist  church  at  George- 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  59 

town,  then  under  the  pastoral  care  of  W.  C.  Buck, 
D.  D.  Losing  his  wife,  he  was  married  the  second 
time  to  Catharine  A.  Lang,  of  Woodford  county,  and 
moved  to  Missouri  the  following  year.  He  settled 
near  Paris,  Monroe  county,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  November  i7,  1864. 

"Dr.  Bower  was  a  man  of  decided  convictions  and 
fervent  piety.  He  was  always  interested  in  his  church, 
and  when  the  pastor  was  absent,  often  conducted  the 
services  himself.  He  was  a  constituent  member  of  the 
General  Association  and  often  attended  its  subsequent 
meetings,  contributing  by  his  presence  and  means  to 
further  the  good  cause.  He  opposed  the  anti-mission 
faction  with  all  his  might,  and  until  his  death  took  una- 
bated interest  in  the  cause  of  missions. 

"He  was  a  popular  man,  and  taking  a  deep  interest 
in  the  political  afifairs  of  the  country,  was  elected  to 
congress  in  1843,  ^^^^  served  two  years." 

Stephen  Wilhite  was  a  son  of  Sampson  Wil- 
hite,  and  therefore  a  brother  of  Fielding  Wilhite,  so 
frequently  mentioned  in  this  volume,  and  the  histories 
of  Missouri;  and  of  Wm.  Wilhite  who  was  the  father 
of  J.  Sampson  Wilhite,  R.  Sarchel  Wilhite  and  Hon.  W. 
R.  Wilhite.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Stephen  Elli- 
ott, an  honored  deacon  of  Walnut  Grove  church,  in 
Boone  county,  and  of  W.  F.  Elliott,  so  long  a  promi- 
nent and  most  useful  member  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion, and  of  whom,  more  anon.  Stephen  Wilhite  was 
a  prominent  farmer  and  highly  respected,  as  his  elec- 
tion to  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  Association  indi- 
cates. The  Wilhite  family  have  for  generations  been 
reckoned  among  the  active  and  useful  elements  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  in  the  state.  J.  Sampson  Wil- 
hite, in  his  last  will  and  testament,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  writer  of  these  lines,  made  a  generous  bequest  to 
the   State  Mission  Board   of  the  General  Association, 


6o  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

which  will  be  realized  upon  the  happening  of  the  events 
specified  in  the  will. 

[At  this  point  the  author  of  this  book  requests 
that  as  readers  follow  the  narrative  of  the  General  As- 
sociation, they  particularly  observe  the  agency  of  de- 
voted laymen  in  the  development  of  our  great  cause 
in  Missouri.  What  others  have  done,  the  reader  can 
do  by  earnestly  seeking  divine  aid  in  a  purpose  and  ef- 
fort to  accomplish  the  end  of  his  conversion  to  Christ.] 

At  this  Bethlehem  meeting  the  moderator  preached 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  after  explaining  the  objects  of  the 
organization,  asked  for  a  collection  for  state  missions. 
So  far  as  can  be  definitely  ascertained  this  was  the  first 
public  collection  for  that  object  ever  lifted  in  the  state. 
The  collection  amounted  to  $51.75.  This,  with  the 
balance  in  the  treasury  from  the  preceding  year — 
$17.50 — made  the  total  mission  fund  to  pass  into  the 
hands  of  Treasurer  Wilhite  $69.25.  This  looks  like  a 
meager  showing  for  a  state  organization.  But,  as  sub- 
sequent records  show,  Baptists  are  not  dispisers  of  the 
day  of  small  things.  Nothing  daunted  by  this  seem- 
ingly inadequate  material  aid  the  struggling  but  hope- 
ful society  proceeded  to  elect  Anderson  Woods  to 
preach  throughout  the  state  and  promote  the  objects  of 
the  Society. 

It  seems  a  misfortune  and  was  certainly  a  test  of 
the  faith  of  the  new  organization  that  Anderson  Woods 
declined  the  appointment.  The  Society  had  the  full 
sympathy  of  his  generous  heart,  but  he  felt  that  he 
could  not  sever  his  connection  with  churches  that  en- 
joyed and  claimed  to  further  enjoy  his  pastoral  serv- 
ices. He  reluctantly  declined  the  call  of  his  brethren  of 
the  "Society,"  for  he  had  been  one  of  the  prime  and  in- 
fluential movers  in  its  organization. 

Though  a  native  of  Virginia,  Anderson  Woods, 
like  many  another  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  Central  Mis- 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  6 1 

souri,  came  into  the  state  from  Aladisou  county,  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  born  in  i778.  His  parents  were  of 
Irish  extraction.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  colo- 
nial revolutionary  war  and  served  as  captain  in  a  regi- 
ment under  General  Washington.  Young  Woods,  at 
the  age  of  eighteen,  was  apprenticed  by  his  father  to  a 
blacksmith  to  learn  that  trade.  (May  it  not  be  a  mis- 
fortune that  American  progress  has  removed  the  plan 
of  learning  a  trade,  by  the  young  men  of  the  country?) 
Like  many  another  man  who  became  a  Baptist  preacher 
Mr.  Woods  was  the  son  of  Pedo  Baptist  parents.  His 
father  was  a  worthy  member  of  a  Presbyterian  church. 
When  the  son  made  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ,  he 
set  about  the  good  work  of  carefully  reading  the  New 
Testament  Scriptures.  When  having  carefuly  read  the 
Book  through  once,  it  occurred  to  him  that  he  had  ob- 
served no  authority  for  infant  baptism.  He  felt  as- 
sured that  he  had  read  too  carelessly;  he  resolved  to 
read  again  and  give  more  attention  to  the  teachings  of 
the  holy  book.  Having  completed  the  second  reading 
he  was  amazed  at  his  own  supposed  intellectual  ob- 
tuseness,  for  again  did  he  fail  to  find  authority  for  that 
rite  that  had  been  administered  to  him  in  his  infancy, 
and  surely  the  Presbyterians  must  be  right — they  are  a 
learned  and  righteous  people  and  can  not  be  wrong  up- 
on such  a  question  as  christian  baptism.  He  passed  his 
researches  to  the  "third  reading"  and  reluctantly  con- 
cluded that  infant  baptism  was  not  a  New  Testament 
ordinance.  He  then  devoted  himself  to  investigation  of 
the  mode  of  baptism.  The  result  of  these  researches 
surprised  him.  Can  it  be  that  the  ignorant  and  big- 
oted Baptists  are  right,  and  learned  and  elite  Presby- 
terians wrong?  His  soul  was  troubled.  But  he  had 
bought  the  truth  and  must  not  sell  it.  He  must  sacri- 
fice pride  and  family  traditions,  but  in  return  he  would 
have   a   priceless   boon — the   answer  of   a   good  con- 


6z  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

science.  He  and  his  wife — who  was  a  Miss  Elizabeth 
Harris — were  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  Viney 
Fork  Baptist  church  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky. 

In  i8i6  Mr.  Wood  and  his  family  emigrated  to 
Missouri  and  settled  in  that  part  of  Howard  county 
which  is  now  Boone  county,  on  or  near  Rail's  Prairie. 
He  was  active  in  bringing  about  the  organization  of 
Bethel — now  Walnut  Grove  church.  In  the  member- 
ship of  which  is  now  a  niece  of  his — Mrs.  Martha 
Wood  Sampson,  the  wife  of  Deacon  John  H.  Sampson, 
both  of  whom  still  live,  having  several  years  since  cele- 
brated their  golden  marriage  anniversary,  and  all  of 
whose  sons  and  daughters  are  members  of  the  church 
which  their  honored  kinsman  aided  in  founding. 

After  remaining  at  RalFs  Prairie  about  two  years 
Mr.  Woods  moved  to  a  point  in  Boone  county  about  six 
miles  southeast  of  Columbia,  and  became  a  constituent 
member  of  Bonne  Femme  church,  mentioned  in  the 
preceding  chapter.  By  this  church  he  was  ordained  to 
the  gospel  ministry.  He  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  church  in  Columbia,  and  notwithstanding  he  trav- 
eled much,  and  to  the  remotest  parts  of  the  state  as  a 
voluntary  missionary,  while  pastor  at  Columbia,  the 
church  was  greatly  prospered  under  his  labors. 

In  1835  he  removed  to  Monroe  county  and  labored 
with  the  church  at  Paris,  Otter  Creek,  Mount  Prairie 
and  New  Ark  until  his  death,  which  was  on  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  October,  1841. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Society  was  at  Mt. 
Moriah  church,  in  Howard  county.  J.  B.  Longan  was 
again  elected  moderator. 

Hon.  Wm.  Carson  was  chosen  recording  secretary. 
Mr.  Carson  was  one  of  Missouri's  most  eminent  citi- 
zens. He  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  emigrated  to 
Missouri  soon  after  attaining  his  majority.  For  six 
years  he  filled  the  office  of  United  States  Register  of 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  63 

Lands  at  the  Palmyra  office.  He  was  for  ten  years  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  for  four 
years  a  member  of  the  Missouri  Senate.  In  all  civil 
positions  he  distinguished  himself  for  competency, 
fidelity  and  an  incorruptible  character. 

But  it  was  in  his  religious  life  that  he  was  most 
active,  influential  and  useful  to  the  world.  He  was 
present  at  the  organization  of  the  Central  Society ;  sub- 
sequent to  his  secretaryship — in  1849 — he  was  made 
moderator  of  the  General  Association.  He  aided  in  the 
organization  of  churches  and  district  associations ;  with 
his  pen  he  defended  the  principles  of  his  denomination 
against  the  assaults  of  the  most  formidable  antagonists. 
He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  location  of  a 
Baptist  college  in  Missouri,  which  resulted  in  the 
founding  of  the  William  Jewell  College  at  Liberty. 

He  died  at  his  home  in  Palmyra,  mourned  by  an 
interesting  family  and  a  host  of  friends,  November  3, 
1873,  aged  seventy-five  years. 

The  executive  board  which  was  appointed  at  the 
preceding  meeting  shows  that  the  money  collected  for 
state  missions  was  an  increase  over  the  former  year  of 
$244,  which  means  that  the  total  for  the  year  was 
$313.25.  There  are  indications  that  the  missionaries 
did  an  encouraging  work,  though  no  report  of  the  num- 
ber of  conversions  and  baptisms  seems  to  have  been 
printed. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  Kemp  Scott  was  appointed 
general  agent.  Records  of  subsequent  meetings  indi- 
cate that  this  appointment  was  accepted.  Up  to  this 
time,  and  for  several  subsequent  years,  there  seemed  a 
hesitancy  on  the  part  of  the  Association  to  engage  an 
agent  at  a  stipulated  compensation.  It  is  almost  equally 
certain  that  this  hesitancy  was  not  so  much  the  result  of 
deliberate  opposition  to  a  paid  agency,  as  it  was  the 
effect  of  intimidation  growing  out  of  the  persistent  and 


64  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

violent  adverse  criticisms  of  the  anti-mission  Baptists. 
While  the  missionary  Baptists  desired  to  carry  forward 
the  work  upon  which  they  had  entered,  and  their  pur- 
pose was  to  do  so,  they  at  the  same  time  wished  to  avoid 
all  occasion  for  disturbing  agitations  and  alienations. 
They  had  hoped  to  do  their  work  without  a  paid  finan- 
cial agent,  but  each  year  experience  made  it  more  man- 
ifest that  such  method  could  not  be  fruitful  of  satisfac- 
tory results.  Indeed  the  results  of  Kemp  Scott's  work 
as  reported  to  the  next  meeting  held  in  Columbia  in 
June,  1838,  were  not  such  as  to  inspire  great  confidence 
in  agency  work.  Scott  reported  that  he  had  visited  ten 
counties,  several  associations,  and  that  he  had  collected 
$75  in  cash  and  obtained  pledges  for  $11.15.  But  his 
work  was  by  no  means  a  failure,  for  he  reported  the 
baptism  of  126  converts.  The  brethren  and  churches 
had  not  yet  been  instructed  concerning  the  relation  of 
the  carnal  to  the  spiritual,  and  understood  not  God's 
use  for  money  in  pushing  forward  the  Kingdom  of  His 
Son.  There  are  still  some  brethren  who  seem  not  to 
understand  this  matter. 

Not  much  is  recorded  to  furnish  the  historian  with 
information  concerning  Brother  Kemp  Scott,  but  the 
little  that  is  obtainable  shows  clearly  that  he  had  the 
confidence  of  his  brethren,  and  that  his  labors  in  the 
North  Grand  River  country  were  greatly  blessed  of  the 
Lord.  This  tradition  to  follow  a  man  for  more  than  a 
half  century  is  something  to  live  for,  but  beyond  is  the 
great  reward  upon  which  he  entered  April  13,  1864,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 

In  1839  the  Society  met  at  Big  Lick,  in  Cooper 
county.  Not  much  of  general  interest  was  done,  fur- 
ther than  to  change  the  name  of  the  organization  from 
Central  Society  to  "General  Association."  The  full  new 
name  was  "General  Association  of  United  Baptists  of 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  65 

Missouri.  "  The  name  was  subsequently  again  changed 
so  as  to  leave  out  the  word  "United." 

The  reports  show  some  increase  of  contributions 
of  money  to  the  work  of  state  missions,  and  an  increase 
of  baptisms  reported,  but  the  figures  in  detail  are  not 
available. 

In  1840  the  General  Association  ventures  a  little 
away  from  the  region  and  characteristic  surroundings 
of  its  birth.  Under  its  new  name  it  goes  to  town. 
Hitherto,  except  at  Columbia  for  one  meeting,  it  had 
never  given  up  the  hospitality  of  rural  churches. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  James  Suggett,  of  Callaway 
county,  preached  the  introductory  sermon  and  was 
chosen  moderator  to  succeed  J.  B.  Longan.  who  had 
presided  for  the  four  preceding  meetings. 

At  an  informal  memorial  meeting  held  at  Provi- 
dence church  in  August,  1884,  just  fifty  years  after  the 
organization  of  the  Central  Society,  at  which  meeting 
Gov.  Chas.  H.  Hardin,  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham  and  the 
writer  delivered  memorial  addresses.  Dr.  Burnham 
spoke  of  the  venerable  departed  James  Suggett  in  the 
following  appropriate  words,  which  are  chosen  in  pref- 
erence to  any  the  author  might  use : 

James  Suggett  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vir- 
ginia, in  1775,  just  one  year  before  the  Declaration  of 
American  Independence.  He  moved  when  a  child,  to 
Kentucky,  was  converted  in  1800,  began  his  ministry  at 
Great  Crossings,  in  Scott  county,  where  he  labored 
with  great  acceptance  and  success  for  a  number  of 
years.  As  he  w'as  born  and  raised  in  the  midst  of  war, 
we  are  not  surprised  that  he  enlisted  in  the  army  and 
was  a  soldier  during  the  war  of  1812.  He  became 
major  and  commanded  a  battalion  in  the  famous  regi- 
ment of  Richard  M.  Johnson.  He  was  detached  from 
his  regiment,  selected  by  Gen.  Harrison  to  command 
the  advance  guard  of  the  American  army  and  bring  on 

5 


66  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

the  action  in  the  decisive  battle  of  the  Thames.  He 
valiantly  led  his  battalion  into  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
conducted  himself  with  the  bravery  of  Julius  Caesar 
throughout  the  brief  but  desperate  struggle,  led  the 
van  in  the  pursuit  of  Proctor  and  the  flying  British,  and 
returned  with  Proctor's  carriage  as  a  trophy  of  the  vic- 
tory, and  was  permitted  to  learn  that  Tecumseh  had 
fallen  and  the  last  hope  of  the  Indians  had  perished.  In 
the  carriage  which  he  thus  captured  from  the  British 
general,  Col.  Johnson  rode  home  through  Ohio  and 
nursed,  on  the  way,  the  numerous  wounds  which  he  re- 
ceived in  the  desperate  charge  which  he  made  upon  Te- 
cumseh and  the  cluster  of  Indian  warriors  that  gathered 
about  their  dauntless  chief  in  the  last  moments  of  his 
eventful  life. 

Suggett  moved  to  Missouri  in  1825,  and  first  set- 
tled in  Boone  county.  There  he  served  Bonne  Femme, 
Columbia  and  Rocky  Fork  churches;  subsequently  he 
moved  to  Callaway,  settled  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood of  Brick  Providence  church,  where  he  spent  the 
last  and  most  glorious  years  of  his  laborious  and  useful 
life.  He  was  moderator  of  the  old  Salem  association 
when  that  body  declared  against  missions.  Earnestly 
did  he  protest  against  such  a  suicidal  course,  but  when 
taken  he  vacated  the  chair  and  heroically  turned  his 
back  upon  scores  of  his  best  friends  because  his  love  of 
Christ  and  the  cause  of  missions,  and  his  own  conscien- 
tious convictions  demanded  such  a  course. 

He  went  into  the  organization  of  the  General  As- 
sociation and  warmly  supported  its  great  designs  and 
measures.  After  Stephens  and  Boulware  had  labored 
in  vain  to  prevent  the  organization,  and  Boulware  had 
left  the  assembly,  he  returned  and  labored  with  Sug- 
gett to  induce  him  to  leave  the  body.  But  he  who 
could  not  be  terrified  by  the  roar  of  British  artillery, 
nor  the  tomahawks,  scalping  knives  nor  war-whoops  of 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  67 

the  Indians  was  not  the  man  to  flinch  before  the  denun- 
ciations of  the  whole  army  of  anti-missionaries.  Nor 
was  he  the  man  to  yield  his  convictions  to  the  mild  per- 
suasions or  intimidating  threats  of  Boulware.  or  any 
other  man. 

Suggett  remained  firm,  and  through  his  life  zeal- 
ously cooperated  wath  the  association.  He  was  a  mis- 
sionary in  all  the  warp  and  woof  of  his  being,  and  right 
zealously  did  he  prove  his  faith  by  his  works.  He  mis- 
sionated  extensively,  at  different  times  of  his  life, 
throughout  the  counties  of  the  state,  and  traveled  at 
one  time  as  far  as  the  Indian  tribes,  preaching  Jesus  to 
the  people.  There  is  yet  extant  in  the  minutes  of  the 
old  Salem  Association  a  circular  letter  written  by  him 
evincing  no  mean  ability,  deep  piety,  fervent  zeal  and 
an  unquenchable  longing  for  the  salvation  of  souls. 

He  died  in  185 1,  leaving  as  a  heritage  to  his  chil- 
dren and  his  churches  a  spotless  name,  a  pure  charac- 
ter, an  unsullied  life  and  a  thousand  hallowed  memo- 
ries to  remind  them  of  the  truth  of  God's  promise, 
"Blessed  is  the  man  that  feareth  the  Lord,  that  walketh 
in  His  w^ays." 

Hon.  Wm.  Carson  was  again  made  recording  sec- 
retary. 

At  this  Paris  meeting  the  treasurer's  report  shows 
a  balance  in  his  hands  of  $342.14.  Fielding  Wilhite, 
A.  F.  Martin  and  W.  H.  Duval  had  performed  mission- 
ary labor  aggregating  eighty-seven  days,  resulting  in 
twenty-seven  baptisms  and  the  formation  of  three  new 
churches.  An  executive  board  was  constituted,  con- 
sisting of  James  Suggett,  R.  S.  Thomas,  Stephen  Wil- 
hite, Wm.  Carson,  Roland  Hughes,  Urial  Sebree,  Wm. 
Wilhite,  J.  B.  Dale  and  George  McOuitty.  This  board 
organized  with  Suggett  as  chairman,  Thomas  as  cor- 
responding secretary,  Stephen  Wilhite  as  treasurer  and 
Wm.  Carson   as   recording-   secretarv.     These  men  of 


6S  A  Decode  of  Progress. 

God  are  all  dead.  Noah  Flood  was  appointed  general 
agent  at  a  salary  of  $400.  The  state  was  divided  into 
two  districts,  one  on  either  side  of  the  Missouri  river. 
P.  N.  Ha}- craft  and  A.  F.  Martin  were  designated  to 
labor  as  evangelists  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and 
J.  C.  Herndon  and  James  Suggett  on  the  south  side. 

In  1841  the  Association  met  with  the  Chariton 
church  in  Howard  county,  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of 
August.  Urial  Sebree  presided  and  R.  S.  Thomas  was 
again  recording  secretary. 

In  these  days  Chariton  church  was  one  of  the 
strongest  in  the  state.  The  church's  location  is  central 
to  as  fine  agricultural  district  as  can  be  found  in  the 
west.  Magnificent  farms  lay  in  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion on  all  sides,  and  nearly  every  estate  owned  and  op- 
erated by  a  Baptist.  The  people  were  hospitable  and 
generous  and  perhaps  a  little  vain  of  their  material  ad- 
vantage and  social  influence.  That  church  is  not  as 
strong  now  as  in  former  days.  There  was  a  time  in  the 
recent  past  when  it  was  thought  that  its  glory  had  all 
but  departed.  Deaths  and  removals  had  sadly  deci- 
mated the  membership.  A  few  years  since  the  writer, 
while  assisting  the  gifted  pastor,  P.  R.  Ridgley,  in  a 
meeting  of  some  days,  was  entertained  at  the  elegant 
and  hospitable  home  of  Bro.  W.  J.  Hughes,  in  company 
with  whom  he  visited  and  dined  with  the  late  lamented 
Judge  Hickerson.  Standing  in  the  Judge's  door  lawn, 
we  counted  more  than  thirty  fine  farms  that  within  a 
decade  of  years  past  had  gone  out  of  Baptist  proprie- 
torship and  possession  into  the  hands  of  non-Baptists. 
The  picture  and  the  reflections  were  saddening. 

A  retrospect  of  Missouri  country  churches  pre- 
sents a  similar  state  of  case  in  nearly  every  part  of  the 
state.  Our  older  strong  country  churches  are  not  as 
they  once  were.  The  reasons  for  this  state  of  things  de- 
mand  intelligent   and   prayerful  thought.     Some   sug- 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  69 

gestions  on  the  subject  may  be  found  in  tlic  chapter  on 
"Centers  of  Influence/' 

But  let  us  return  to  the  Chariton  meeting  of  Gen- 
eral Association.  The  several  missionaries  reported 
for  the  preceding  year  an  aggregate  of  thirteen  months 
and  seventeen  days  work,  resulting  in  sixty-nine  bap- 
tisms and  the  constitution  of  four  new  churches.  The 
general  agent  had  labored  in  the  bounds  of  fifteen  asso- 
ciations and  had  preached  1 7o  sermons,  and  obtained  in 
cash  and  pledges  $58'!.  15.  These  results  may  appear 
small  to  those  intimate  with  operations  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  at  this  writing,  1898,  but  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  brethren  of  1841  were  still  con- 
tending against  a  strong  anti-missionary  current,  very 
pronounced  in  many  Baptist  churches,  and  furthermore 
that  the  pastors  of  churches  rarely  encouraged  the 
grace  of  giving;  and  the  spirituality  (?)  of  not  a  few 
good  brethren  and  sisters  was  shocked  by  the  mention 
of  money  on  Sunday  in  the  pulpit.  They  labored  hard 
six  days  in  the  week  for  that  which  was  too  vile  to  be 
named  on  the  seventh :  perhaps  these  have  some  sur- 
vivors in  the  dying  days  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

At  the  meeting  in  1842  at  Richland  church  in  Cal- 
laway county,  there  w-ere  encouraging  manifestations 
of  the  increasing  influence  of  the  General  Association. 
The  most  interesting  and  significant  proceeding  of  this 
meeting  was  an  effort  to  establish  a  Baptist  Book  De- 
pository in  St.  Louis.  Of  this  movement  more  will  ap- 
pear further  along. 

In  1843.  at  Jefferson  City,  the  most  important 
items  of  business  were  the  preliminary  steps  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  Baptist  college,  suggested  by  the  lib- 
eral offer  of  $10,000  by  Dr.  William  Jewell :  and  a 
committee  to  look  after  a  bequest  of  $1,000  by  Jeremiah 
H.  Neal,  of  Montgomery  county.  (Nearly  thirty  year^ 
after  this  latter  action,  the  writer  was  instructed  by  the 


70  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

State  Mission  Board  to  look  after  the  same  fund.  It 
no  doubt  was  lost  in  the  collapse  of  the  National  Bank 
of  the  State  of  Missouri,  as  the  original  amount  had 
been  invested  in  the  stock  of  that  bank.) 

In  1844  the  Association  met  for  the  second  time 
with  the  Mt.  Moriah  church  in  Howard  county. 
Roland  Hughes  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Wade  M. 
Jackson  for  the  second  time  was  elected  secretary. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer,  Samuel  C.  Majors, 
shows  total  receipts  for  the  preceding  year  $848.62, 
$329.86  of  which  were  for  what  was  then  a  mission  en- 
terprise in  Palestine,  called  the  Palestine  Mission, 
leaving  $518.76  that  had  been  collected  for  state  mis- 
sions. After  settling  with  the  missionaries  and  pay- 
ing over  the  funds  due  the  Palestine  Mission,  and  the 
expenses  for  printing,  postage,  etc.,  there  were  $126.62 
left  in  the  treasury. 

The  missionaries  for  the  preceding  year  were  P. 
N.  Haycraft,  Benj.  Terrill.  D.  R.  Murphy,  A.  F.  Mar- 
tin, J.  S.  Smith,  A.  P.  Williams.  Three  of  these  breth- 
ren received  at  the  rate  of  $100  a  year  each,  and  two  of 
them  at  the  rate  of  $80. 

These  missionaries  report  an  aggregate  of  35? 
sermons,  eighty-three  baptisms  and  the  constitution  of 
three  churches.  There  is  no  report  from  A.  P.  Wil- 
liams. 

There  are  some  items  in  the  reports  of  these  mis- 
sionaries that  will  be  especially  interesting  to  readers 
at  this  date,  and  especially  to  some  of  the  citizens  of  St. 
Joseph.  P.  N.  Haycraft  says:  "My  labors  have  been 
principally  in  the  counties  of  Andrew  and  Buchanan. 

*  *  *  Anti-Nomianism  has  been  preached  so  generally 
through  the  Platte  country  by  the  Anties  that  I  at  first 
found  it  exceeding  difficult  to  obtain  a  congregation. 

*  *  *  The  world  believed  that  all  Baptists  preached 
Anti-Nomianism,  and  the  Anties  believed  the  missiona- 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  7 1 

ries  preached  Canipbellism.  These  false  notions  are  fast 
giving  away. 

"St.  Josephs  situated  on  the  Black  Snake  Hills,  is 
a  rapidly  growing  village,  an  important  station,  and 
should  be  immediately  occupied  by  an  efficient  Baptist 
preacher,  who  could  also  attend  at  Savannah  and 
James  Town.  Opposition  to  our  views  has  taken  deeper 
root  in  the  Platte  than  almost  any  other  portion  of  the 
state." 

Now  that  more  than  a  half  centur\-  has  gone  by, 
the  brethren  and  sisters  who  have  come  into  the  world 
and  grown  up  since  the  "rapidly  growing  village"  on 
the  ''Black  Snake  Hills"  has  become  a  great  city,  with 
several  good  Baptist  churches,  largely  the  result  of 
missionary  labor  by  the  General  Association,  can  form 
a  better  idea  of  the  worth  of  our  now  almost  venerable 
but  active  state  organization.  The  same  may  be  said  of 
many  of  our  most  important  towns  and  cities.  In 
another  part  of  this  volume  further  attention  is  given 
to  the  results  of  state  mission  work  in  centers  of  popu- 
lation. 

The  close  of  the  first  ten  years  of  progress  after  the 
completion  of  the  organization  finds  us  at  Columbia 
again.  Roland  Hughes  is  again  moderator  and  Le- 
land  Wright  is  recording  secretary.  Both  of  these 
gentlemen  were  of  Howard  county,  so  long  the  home  of 
the  executive  board  (now,  1898,  the  Board  of  State 
Missions  and  Sunday  Schools). 

Mentally  pausing  for  a  moment  at  this  Columbia 
session  of  the  Association,  one  is  seriously  impressed, 
almost  overwhelmed  by  the  reflections  suggested  by 
the  names  found  printed  in  the  Associational  records. 
Of  ministers  present  there  are  the  following  names : 
Wm.  Duncan,  Thos.  Fristoe,  S.  H.  Ford,  Noah  Flood, 
R.  S.  Thomas,  A.  P.  Williams,  A.  Broadus  and  D.  R. 
Murphy.     Of  this  list  of  ministerial  messengers  to  the 


7 2  A  Decade  of  Progress. 

Association  none  are  living  save  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  an 
octogenarian,  who  was  present  at  the  session  of  1898, 
at  Kirksville,  with  scarcely  a  perceptible  abatement  of 
that  rare  oratorical  power  that,  by  common  consent, 
has  accorded  him  the  Gladstonian  soubriquet  "Grand 
Old  Man."  Of  eminent  laymen  present  were  Samuel 
C.  Majors,  Roland  Hughes,  Urial  Sebree,  Leland 
Wright,  Wm.  Jewell,  Wm.  McPherson,  P.  G.  Cam- 
den, Stephen  Wilhite,  John  Jackson,  F.  Tolston,  J.  B. 
Vardeman,  all  of  whom  have  passed  over  the  river  to 
the  promised  land.  The  Lord  has  raised  up  their  suc- 
cessors in  a  line  of  Godly  layworkers,  a  few  of  whom 
are  the  lineal  descendants  of  the  host  that  has  been 
called  up  higher.  The  living  helpers,  both  ministers 
and  laymen,  whose  names  are  inseparable  from  the  his- 
tory of  the  General  Association,  and  the  younger  ones 
who  are  now  making  history,  will  soon  follow  on  to  join 
the  sacramental  hosts  and  their  successors,  it  is  hoped, 
will  find  comfort  and  encouragement  in  glancing  at 
these  memorial  pages.  The  author  now  prays  that  he 
may  be  spared  to  complete  the  volume  as  an  humble 
tribute  to  those  upon  whose  foundation  he  has  helped 
to  build  our  present  superstructure,  and  to  those  with 
whom  he  has  so  long  labored  in  most  delightful  fellow- 
ship. 

The  reports  of  the  missionaries  to  this  meeting  of 
the  Association  do  not  indicate  a  year  of  prosperity  in 
the  mission  fields.  The  missionaries  were  Euphrates 
Springer,  D.  R.  Murphy,  Thomas  Rucker  and  A.  F. 
Martin.  Bro.  Martin  says  to  the  board  in  his  report : 
'Tn  some  regions  we  have  mourned  on  account  of  de- 
clension in  religion,  but  in  others  we  rejoice  to  say  that 
a  bright  cloud  of  heavenly  mercy  has  stood  over  the 
camp  of  Israel,  and  refreshing-  streams  of  life-giving 
water  have  descended  on  the  parched  ground.  I  have 
labored  three  months,  preached  fifty-eight  times,  bap- 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  73 

tized  eighteen  persons  and  traveled  1,100  miles."  The 
total  summary  of  work  by  the  four  missionaries  is  240 
sermons  and  seventy  baptisms.  The  treasurer's  report 
shows  an  associational  fund  for  the  year  of  $466.66. 
Other  moneys  were  on  hand  for  other  purposes,  such 
as  foreign  missions,  Indian  missions  and  education. 
After  settling  all  accounts  for  the  year  the  balance  in 
the  treasury  was  $204.16. 

At  this  meeting  the  executive  board  laments  the 
suspension  of  the  publication  of  the  Missouri  Baptist 
as  depriving  them  of  the  means  of  communicating  with 
the  churches.  (The  history  of  the  struggles  of  Mis- 
souri Baptists  to  establish  a  denominational  journal  in 
the  state  is  left  for  another  chapter.) 

Leland  Wright,  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
executive  board,  in  his  annual  report  speaks  of  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society  as  the 
"Parent  Society."  This  language  expresses  the  kindly 
feeling  of  the  Missouri  brethren  for  the  Home  Mission 
Society,  but  to  the  uninformed  it  is  liable  to  mislead. 
The  General  Association  or  "Central  Society"  was  not 
originated  by  any  other  organization,  nor  subsidiary  or 
auxiliary  to  any  other,  but  as  a  separate  and  independ- 
ent society.  It  is  true,  and  should  not  be  forgotten, 
that  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  did  a 
good  work  in  Missouri,  and  cooperated  with  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  In  1844  that  society  employed  T.  W. 
Anderson  for  New  Cape  Girardeau  Association  at  a 
salary  of  $100  a  year,  and  J.  S.  Smith  for  the  counties 
of  Lewis,  Clark  and  Scotland  at  same  salary,  and  ap- 
propriated $200  towards  the  support  of  S.  H.  Ford,  at 
North  Church,  St.  Louis:  and  in  1845  that  society  ap- 
propriated $100  for  A.  P.  Williams,  in  Liberty,  and 
vicinity,  and  a  like  amount  for  Norman  Parks,  at  Paris 
and  vicinity.  Leland  Wright  concludes  his  report  with 
these  words :  "The  parent  Society  has  thus  far  contin- 


74  ^  Decade  of  Progress. 

ued  to  extend  to  the  destitute  places  of  our  state  liberal 
aid,  which  calls  for  our  grateful  acknowledgments, 
and  should  stimulate  us  to  engage  heartily  in  the  good 
work  until  by  our  united  labors,  the  object  shall  be  ac- 
complished of  'supplying  every  destitute  section  in  our 
state  zvith  the  preached  gospel.' "  These  words  ex- 
press a  beautiful,  and  as  to  their  author,  a  genuine 
christian  sentiment ;  the  only  criticism  is  as  to  the  term 
"Parent  Society." 

It  is  especially  worthy  of  note  that  at  this — 1845 — 
meeting  a  resolution  looking  to  the  history  of  the  As- 
sociation was  adopted,  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  the  Executive  Committee  be  re- 
quested to  prepare  by  the  next  meeting  of  this  Associ- 
ation, a  history  of  the  Association  from  its  origin  to  the 
present  time." 

If  the  resolution  was  ever  carried  into  efifect,  more 
than  a  half  century  has  perhaps  buried  the  history  out 
of  sight.  If  the  brethren — intelligent  and  progressive — 
who  gave  character  to  the  Columbia  meeting  fifty-three 
years  ago,  were  so  interested  in  the  organization  as  to 
feel  an  interest  in  preserving  twelve  years  of  history, 
how  much  more  should  General  Association  Baptists  of 
to-day — after  sixty-four  meetings  of  the  body,  feel  con- 
cerned for  the  history  of  their  fathers  and  their  asso- 
ciational  transactions !  In  fifty  years  from  this  writ- 
ing thousands  of  devoted  Missouri  Baptists  will  be 
curious  to  know  what  was  done  by  the  Association  in 
the  nineteenth  century,  and  who  were  the  actors. 

The  close  of  the  first  decade  of  actual  work,  re- 
veals to  the  present  the  conflicts,  difficulties  and  tribu- 
lations of  those  who  went  before  to  blaze  the  road  to 
Baptist  prosperity  in  a  new  and  comparatively  untried 
country.  The  difficulties  and  privations  of  travel,  the 
lack  of  newspaper  communications,  the  tardiness  and 
meagerness  of  the  postal  system,  the  want  of   church 


A  Decade  of  Progress.  75 

houses,  an  undeveloped  spirit  of  christian  beneficence, 
and  more  than  all  the  violent  and  almost  vicious  oppo- 
sition of  anti-missionary  Baptists  imposed  trials  and 
burdens  upon  our  church  fathers  in  Missouri  of  which 
we  can  have  only  a  faint  realization. 

A  befitting  conclusion  to  this  chapter  is  a 

SUMMARY 

of  the  work  and  results  from  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion down  to  the  time  of  the  meeting  now  before  us. 

Number    of    missionaries  under  commission 

during  last  ten  years 14 

Number  of  baptisms  reported 376 

Amount  of   money  reported  by  treasurer  for 

state   missions $1,857.38 

Estimated,  unreported  collections 1,000.00 

Estimated  total  for  ten  years $2,857.38 

This  ten  years  of  tabulated  work  does  not  foot  up 
as  much  as  one  fourth  the  work  now  done — 1898 — in 
one  year  by  the  General  Association.  But  it  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  preachers  of  those  days  did  an 
immense  amount  of  missionary  work  in  the  name  of  the 
General  Association  of  which  they  made  no  report  and 
for  which  the  Association  made  no  remuneration.  In 
addition  to  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  these  commis- 
sioned missionaries  were  expected  to  promote  temper- 
ance reform,  which  they  did  and  reported  to  the  board 
the  number  of  temperance  addresses  delivered,  and  the 
number  of  persons  who  "signed  the  pledge"  at  their  in- 
stance. This  was  in  the  days  of  the  "Washingtonians," 
a  temperance  organization  that  accomplished  great 
good  without  the  details  and  machinery  and  expense  of 
social  organizations.  Many  public  meetings  were  held, 
and  many  persons  signed  the  pledge  at  these  gatherings 
under  the  influence  of  fervent  oratory  and  the  gale  of 
enthusiasm  that  w^as  sweeping  the  country.  Sure^y 
gospel  missionaries  are  working  for  Christ  when  fight- 
ing the  Devil's  greatest  emissary. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

SECOND  DECADE  OF  PROGRESS. 
1846— 1856. 

The  General  Association  now  for  the  first  time 
holds  its  session  in  the  cultured  and  historic  city  of 
Lexington,  in  Lafayette  county.  This  meeting  began 
on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  August,  1846,  and  con- 
tinued in  session  for  three  days.  L^rial  Sebree  was  re- 
turned to  the  chair  as  moderator. 

It  was  the  custom  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  Associ- 
ation, and  down  to  wathin  the  last  dozen  or  so  of  years, 
to  include  a  Sabbath  day  in  the  time  of  the  sessions  of 
the  General  Association,  and  when  the  meeting  was 
held  in  a  town  the  courtesy  of  all  the  protestant  pulpits 
of  the  place  was  extended  to  the  Association,  and  the 
committee  of  religious  exercises,  selected  from  the 
preachers  in  attendance  a  preacher  for  each  pulpit  for 
the  forenoon  and  evening  service.  Generally  the  Mon- 
day session  closed  the  business  and  there  was  an  affec- 
tionate leave  taking  and  a  start  for  home.  It  is  different 
now.  The  facilities  for  travel  afforded  by  railroads 
enables  the  preachers  to  get  back  to  their  respective 
churches  by  the  Sabbath,  if  the  Association  convenes 
early  in  the  week.  For  the  accommodation  of  this  plan 
the  Association  now  generally  holds  its  first  meeting  on 
Monday  night  or  Tuesday  morning,  and  from  that 
until  Thursday  evening  or  Friday  noon  there  is  a  fever- 
ish rush  to  get  through  with  the  business  and  take  a 
midnight  or  noon  train  for  home.  To  the  reproach  of 
many  it  must  be  said  that  impatience  or  the  wearing  oft' 
of   novelty  induces   them   to   take   their  departure  the 

76 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  77 

evening  of  the  second  day  or  forenoon  of  the  third  day. 
It  is  questionable  whether  this  doing  away  with  an  old 
custom  is  an  improvement.  It  might  be  well  for  Bap- 
tists to  utilize,  as  formerly,  the  Sabbaths  in  impressing 
the  people  with  the  doctrines  and  ability  of  the  denomi- 
nation and  in  the  cultivation  of  more  fraternal  relations 
with  other  denominations.  It  is  known  to  those  who 
were  familiar  with  former  days,  that  crowded  houses 
greeted  the  Sabbath  day  preaching  by  the  appointees  of 
the  Association.  Every  church  house,  as  a  rule,  was 
crowded  at  both  the  forenoon  and  evening  service. 
Such  a  Sabbath  day  was  expected  by  the  people  and 
arrangements  by  christians  of  all  denominations  and  by 
non-church  members  were  made  to  attend  these  serv- 
ices. They  were  great  opportunities  for  doing  good,  and 
the  Association  generally  left  a  savory  influence  on  the 
community.  Other  denominations,  at  their  annual  con- 
vocations, still  pursue  the  plan  of  including  a  Sabbath 
day  in  their  sojourn  at  the  place  of  meeting,  and  are 
wise  in  doing  so. 

The  plan  of  substituting  night,  "overflow  meet- 
ings," at  our  General  Association  gatherings  is  a  fail- 
ure. The  point  of  attraction  is  the  house  in  which  the 
Association  is  attending  to  the  business  of  the  occasion, 
and  at  night  there  is  generall}'  a  mass-  meeting  in  the 
interest  of  some  designated  object,  and  some  speakers 
slated  for  the  occasion.  The  crowds  are  as  a  rule 
unwieldy  and  uncomfortable  jams.  This  perhaps  can 
not  be  avoided,  but  the  fact  serves  to  show  that  over- 
flow meetings  are  not  substitutes  for  the  Sabbath  day 
preaching.  These  overflow  meetings  are,  as  a  rule, 
sparsely  attended,  the  congregations  are  usually  the 
few  who  dislike  the  uncomfortableness  of  great  crowds, 
and  those  who  prefer  a  gospel  sermon  to  the  set  discus- 
sion of  some  enterprise. 


7S  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

It  is  true  that  the  home  congregations  are  pleased 
to  have  their  pastors  with  them,  and  it  is  a  pleasure  to 
the  pastor  to  be  with  his  own  flock  at  the  Sabbath 
service,  but  might  not  the  churches  and  pastor  do  a 
good  missionary  work  by  sacrificing  one  Sabbath  in  the 
year  to  the  general  interest  of  the  cause  they  are  striv- 
ing to  promote  ? 

This  little  excursion  from  Lexington  into  the  gen- 
eral field  will  be  excused  by  the  reader,  as  the  time  and 
place  happens  just  now  to  recall  some  departures  from 
the  custom  of  our  predecessors. 

Another  departure  may  be  appropriately  noted  in 
this  place :  It  was  the  custom  of  Baptists  in  the  times 
of  which  we  now  write,  for  the  churches  to  send  letters 
— each  church  a  letter — to  the  General  Association,  as 
is  the  habit  with  churches  and  district  associations. 
This  custom  was  no  doubt  borrowed  from  the  district 
associations.  But  as  the  brethren  came  to  understand 
that  the  General  Association  is  not  an  association  of 
churches,  but  a  convention  of  messengers  fro:n  churches 
interested  in  the  spread  of  divine  truth,  and  that  the 
Association  could  do  nothing  in  the  name  of  the 
churches,  and  nothing  to  bind  them  in  doctrine  or  prac- 
tice, and  as  letters  of  mere  greeting  of  good  will  were 
not  especially  promotive  of  the  objects  of  the  Associ- 
ation, the  custom  was  abandoned.  While  the  custom 
was  in  vogue  it  was  the  habit  of  the  recording  secretary 
to  make  this  entry  in  the  minutes  of  proceedings :  "Let- 
ters and  the  appointment  of  delegates  from  churches 
and  associations  called  for,  and  letters  read."  The  ex- 
amination of  credentials  is  what  the  committee  on 
enrollment  is  supposed  to  do  now,  and  the  reading  of 
letters  under  the  old  system  could  have  served  no  prac- 
tical purposes  aside  from  open  exhibit  of  credentials. 
At  this  meeting  the  subject  of  dissolving  connec- 
tion with  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society, 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  79 

and  becoming  auxiliary  to  the  Southern  Baptist  Con- 
vention was  brought  up  on  report  of  committee,  of 
which  Dr.  S.  W.  Lynd,  then  pastor  of  the  Second  Bap- 
tist church,  St.  Louis,  was  chairman.  For  further  in- 
formation on  this  subject  see  chap.  ''Auxiliaries." 

The  financial  exhibit  at  the  Lexington  meeting  in- 
dicates encouraging  advancement  in  the  interest  felt  by 
churches  and  individuals  in  the  work  of  the  Associa- 
tion. The  report  of  the  treasurer,  Sam'l  C.  Majors,  is 
a  model  of  exact  form  of  bookkeeping,  and  shows  that 
at  the  adjournment  of  the  Association  the  whole  amount 
coming"  into  his  hands  for  the  preceding  year  was 
$996.06^^  of  which  amount  $204.10  was  balance  on 
hands  from  last  year,  and  $603.40%  was  paid  in  at  the 
Association.  After  paying  all  claims  to  missionaries  and 
incidental  expenses,  there  was  left  a  cash  balance  of 
$741.44,  which  makes  exhibit  of  the  expenditure  of 
$254.62%  for  all  purposes  of  work  of  the  Association 
for  the  year  ending  with  the  Lexington  meeting. 
Looked  at  from  the  standpoint  of  work  now,  1898,  this 
seems  almost  too  meager  to  justify  the  effort  and  time 
of  the  General  Association.  Rut  let  us  take  a  legitimate- 
ly intelligent  view  of  this  subject.  None  of  the  seven 
missionaries  were  appointed  for  full  time — as  a  rule 
only  ninety  days  to  each.  These  men  preach  in  destitute 
places  423  sermons,  and  baptize  twenty-six  converts. 
This  is  less  than  $2  a  sermon,  and  not  allowing  anything 
for  time  and  travel.  Then  it  should  not  be  overlooked 
that  these  sermons  were  preached  to  people  living  with- 
out any  ministrations  of  the  word  except  as  it  was  sup- 
plied by  itinerant  missionaries.  Who  can  estimate  the 
harvests  to  be  gathered  from  this  primitive  sowing? 
Who  can  estimate  the  good  to  local,  social  and  religious 
conditions,  that  came  from  the  conversion  and  baptism 
of  twenty-six  persons.  To  undertake  to  estimate  spir- 
itual  results  on  a  financial  basis   is   like  counting  the 


8o  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

worth  of  a  human  life  on  what  has  been  consumed  in 
sustaining  that  hfe. 

In  making  report  of  the  year's  work  the  board 
says :  "It  will  be  seen  by  the  reports  that  the  labors  of 
our  brethren  had  not  been  blessed  as  in  former  times. 
This  may  be  owing  in  part  to  the  general  sickness 
which  has  prevailed  in  our  country,  and  in  part  to  the 
affliction  of  the  missionaries  themselves.  But,  brethren, 
is  there  not  great  reason  to  fear  that  the  chief  cause  of 
the  want  of  success  is  the  general  declension  of  piety"? 

The  Lexington  meeting  had  one  especially  com- 
pensating characteristic.  It  was  the  beginning  of  en- 
larged views  of  duty  and  liberality  towards  mission 
v/ork.  At  this  meeting  we  are  furnished  with  record 
evidence  of  the  first  individual  gift  of  $20  for  state  mis- 
sions. Marshall  Brotherton  proposed  to  be  one  of  ten 
who  would  give  $20  each  for  the  work.  The  names  of 
this  advance  guard  are  worthy  of  permanent  record: 
"Marshall  Brotherton  (paid),  Eli  Bass,  Roland 
Hughes,  Wm.  Jewell,  W.  C.  Ligon,  J.  W.  Waddell 
(paid),  David  Perkins,  James  Winn,  W.  D.  Hubbard, 
and  C.  S.  Tarlton."  At  the  next  meeting  the  follow- 
ing named  persons  joined  the  advance  guard:  R.  S. 
Thomas,  W.  C.  Ligon,  Wm.  Vardeman,  John  Robin- 
son and  Noah  Flood.  The  influence  of  this  movement 
upon  the  future  can  not  be  estimated.  Now  there  are 
those  who  give  $100  and  over  as  yearly  contributions 
to  the  state  mission  fund.  Judge  Marshall  Brotherton, 
the  mover  in  the  advanced  step,  reached  the  point 
of  hundreds  annually  to  state  missions.  These  worthy 
examples  should  influence  hundreds  now  where  fifty 
years  since  there  were  but  few  who  were  able  to  make 
such  contributions  to  their  loving  Lord. 

The  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Walnut 
Grove  church,  in  Boone  county,  in  1847,  was  one  of 
unusual  interest  as  to  the  character  of  business  trans- 
acted. 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  Si 

It  was  here  that  the  Association  took  the  decided 
steps  that  resulted  in  the  estabhshment  of  the  WiUiam 
Jewell  College.     The  following  action  was  taken : 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  persons  be 
appointed  a  provisional  committee  on  education,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  originate  an  institution  of  learning 
for  the  Baptist  denomination  in  this  state;  provided 
the  same  can  be  accomplished  upon  a  plan  by  which  its 
endowment  and  perpetuity  may  be  secured." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolution,  the  fol- 
lowing brethren  were  appointed  the  committee :  Roland 
Hughes,  Wm.  Carson,  Wade  M.  Jackson,  Reuben  E. 
McDaniel,  and  David  Perkins.  This  was  done  in  pur- 
suit of  the  great  aim  suggested  and  encouraged  by  Dr. 
Jewell's  liberal  offer  several  years  in  the  past.  (See 
further  in  chapter  on  Education. ) 

At  this  meeting  the  matter  of  a  state  denomina- 
tional paper  was  again  discussed,  and  Dr.  S.  W.  Lynd 
read  an  able  report  on  religious  periodical.  See  chap- 
ter — ,  The  Press. 

The  collections  of  the  year  for  state  missions,  in- 
cluding the  balance  over  from  the  preceding  year, 
amounted  to  $1,510.09.  Eight  missionaries  had  been 
employed  for  the  year  ending  with  the  Association, 
each  of  them  for  three  months'  work.  These  were  G. 
Spencer,  W.  W.  Keep,  Noah  Flood,  W.  McQuie,  E. 
George,  H.  H.  Parks,  J.  D.  Wilson.  These  men  report 
to  the  board  an  aggregate  of  635  sermons  and  sixty- 
four  baptisms.  Again,  it  must  be  kept  in  mind  that 
the  preaching  was  mostly  in  places  hitherto  absolutely 
destitute  of  the  gospel.  Alissionaries  mention  the  meet- 
ing, occasionally,  of  adults  who  had  not  heard  a  ser- 
mon for  years  before  the  visits  of  those  General  Asso- 
ciation representatives.  The  amount  paid  to  mission- 
aries was  $468. 


82  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

The  next  meeting,  1848,  just  fifty  years  before  the 
writing  of  this  book,  was  held  with  Big  Lick  church,  in 
Cooper  county.  This  church  is  located  in  a  fine  agri- 
cultural region,  and  for  years  was  one  of  the  strong 
churches  of  the  state,  and  is  yet  a  church  with  a  good 
and  enterprising  membership. 

At  this  meeting  Urial  Sebree  was  again  chosen 
moderator,  making  six  sessions  in  all  over  which  he 
presided.  This  (1848)  was  his  last  year  of  an  able 
and  acceptable  presidency  of  the  Association. 

Urial  Sebree  was  one  of  the  many  lay  brethren 
whose  intelligence,  personal  worth  and  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  Christ  made  of  them  towers  of  strength  to  the 
General  Association  and  efficient  promoters  of  religion 
generally.  He  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Virginia, 
July  15,  1774.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was  left  an 
orphan.  He  was  cared  for  by  his  uncle,  Cave  Johnson, 
an  eminent  citizen  of  Boone  county,  Kentucky.  In  the 
twenty-third  year  of  his  age  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Cave  of  the  same  county.  He  served  a  six  months'  cam- 
paign, commanding  a  company  in  the  war  of  1812.  He 
participated  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  River  Raisin, 
was  taken  prisoner  and  afterwards  exchanged  without 
permission  to  return  to  the  service.  After  his  return 
to  Kentucky  he  served  several  sessions  in  both  branches 
of  the  legislature. 

Having  lost  his  first  wife  in  early  life,  in  181 7  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Payne,  daughter  of  General 
John  Payne,  and  granddaughter  of  the  late  Robert 
Johnson,  of  Scott  county,  Kentucky.  Two  sons  and 
six  daughters  were  the  fruit  of  this  union.  Hon.  John 
Sebree,  of  Howard  county,  well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected in  Missouri,  was  one  of  the  two  sons,  and 
father  of  Lieut.  Urial  Sebree,  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  and 
Frank  Sebree,  Esq.,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Kansas  City, 
Mrs.  Wm.  Turner  and  Mrs.  John  Farrington,  of  How- 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  83 

arc!  county,  devoted  Baptists  and  earnest  cooperators  of 
the  General  Association,  are  daughters  of  John  Sebree. 
Mrs.  Turner  is  dead,  Mrs.  Farrington  is  Hving  and  an 
active  member  of  Mt.  Zion  church,  in  Howard  county. 
Her  mother,  the  widow  of  John  Sebree,  still  survives 
her  husband,  and  at  cheerful  old  age,  is  not  unmindful 
of  the  interests  of  her  Redeemer's  Kingdom.  J.  Sebree 
Barkett  is  another  descendant  of  Urial  Sebree,  and  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  a  noble  christian  ancestor.  He 
is  clerk  of  the  Mt.  Zion  Association  and  a  devoted  and 
useful  messenger  to  the  General  Association. 

In  the  year  1819,  Captain  Sebree  was  sent  in  charge 
of  government  stores  to  Council  Bluffs,  and  discharged 
the  arduous  duties  connected  with  the  expedition  in  a 
manner  so  satisfactory  to  the  government  as  to  be  com- 
missioned for  similar  service  in  1820.  The  success  of 
this  hazardous  enterprise  was  attributed,  mainly,  to  his 
skill  and  indomitable  perseverance.  At  a  later  period 
he  was  appointed,  and  for  several  years  served,  as  re- 
ceiver of  public  moneys  in  the  United  States  Land  Of- 
fice at  Fayette,  Missouri.  In  the  various  relations  which 
he  sustained  to  the  general  or  state  government,  he 
maintained  the  reputation  of  an  upright,  efficient  officer. 
He  was  amiable  and  generous  with  his  fellowman,  and 
by  manly  self-respect  and  courteous  demeanor  he  se- 
cured and  held  the  esteem  of  all  the  people  who  knew 
him. 

It  was  in  the  church,  however,  that  the  excellency 
of  his  character  was  most  conspicuous.  He  became  a 
Baptist  in  early  life,  and  for  more  than  forty  years  took 
an  active  part  in  all  of  the  enterprises  of  the  denomina- 
tion for  the  advancement  of  religion.  He  was  con- 
nected with  the  movement  for  the  organization  of  the 
"Central  Society,"  and  this  at  a  time  and  under  condi- 
tions that  invited  the  hostility  of  many  who  had  been  his 
ardent  admirers  and  supporters.     His  presidency  of  the 


84  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

General  Association  for  six  years  indicated  the  high  es- 
teem in  which  he  was  held  by  that  body.  His  home 
was  the  home  of  his  brethren  whenever  their  conven- 
ience or  pleasure  would  carry  them  to  its  hospitality. 

When  his  death  was  announced  to  the  General  As- 
sociation in  1853,  there  was  profound  sadness;  a  suit- 
able memorial  service  was  held,  and  suitable  proceed- 
ings In  Menwriam  were  ordered  of  record,  from  which 
the  foregoing  sketch  is  compiled. 

The  business  of  the  session  of  1848  was  largely 
routine.  Again  the  interests  of  a  religious  periodical 
received  due  attention,  as  also  the  college  enterprise; 
these  and  other  matters  are  discussed  in  their  proper 
places  in  the  divisions  of  this  volume. 

The  treasurer's  report  shows  that,  including  the 
balance  in  the  treasury  at  the  beginning  of  the  year,  the 
receipts  for  the  year  were  $2,018.99.  After  defraying 
all  expenses  for  the  year  there  was  left  in  the  treasury 
a  balance  of  $782.94. 

During  this  year  there  were  employed  sixteen  mis- 
sionaries, at  least  three  of  whom  devoted  their  time 
mainly  to  the  financial  interests  of  the  William  Jewell 
College,  nevertheless  they  did  much  preaching.  Of  these 
W.  C.  Ligon  and  Noah  Flood  were  the  principal. 
These  sixteen  men  preached  1,192  sermons  and  bap- 
tized 361  converts.  The  work  of  twelve  of  these  men 
was  in  destitute  regions.  The  money  paid  for  this 
service  was  $911.50.  These  preachers  labored  three 
months  each,  making  an  aggregate  of  forty-eight 
months  or  four  years  for  one  man.  When  the  travel, 
exposure  and  deprivation  are  taken  into  the  account,and 
that  the  whole  sum  expended  was  less  than  the  annual 
salary  of  each  of  many  of  our  pastors,  and  the  results 
were  much  above  the  average  of  pastoral  preaching,  all 
opposition  to  the  work  of  missionaries  should  cease. 

We  now  come  to  the  session  of  1849,  which  was 
held   at    Mt.  Nebo   church,  in  Cooper   county.     Wm. 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  85 

Carson  was  elected  moderator,  and  Leland  Wright  was 
re-elected  recording  secretary.  A  sketch  of  \Vm.  Car- 
son has  been  given  in  a  former  chapter. 

Much  important  business  was  transacted  at  this 
meeting,  which  is  discussed  in  future  chapters  under 
appropriate  heads. 

The  special  business  was  the  organization  of  the 
"Watchman  Fund  Association,"  an  organization  for 
promoting  the  interests  of  the  denominational  paper 
that  had  been  established  in  St.  Louis,  called  The 
Western  Watcli)nan.     See  chapter  The  Press. 

A  plan  was  adopted  at  this  meeting  that  might  now 
(1898)  after  a  lapse  of  practically  a  half  century,  be 
made  far  more  efficient  than  it  was  then.  It  was  the 
appointment  of  a  committee  of  correspondence  at  St. 
Louis  and  a  like  committee  at  Cape  Girardeau. 

Such  a  committee  now  at  St. Louis,  with  its  more 
than  a  half  million  people,  to  frequently  and  thoroughly 
inform  the  Board  of  State  Alissions  of  the  nature  and 
extent  of  the  demands  for  mission  work  in  that  great 
city  could  no  doubt  be  made  to  bring  about  more  sys- 
tematic and  well  directed  efforts  for  the  enlargement  of 
the  Baptist  cause  there.  Brethren  on  the  field  who 
would  closely  and  scientifically  study  the  population  in 
characteristic  localities  could  inform  the  board  as  it  can 
not  be  otherwise  informed.  (See  chapter  Centers  of 
Population.)  A  like  committee  for  Kansas  City  and 
St.  Joseph  might  prove  serviceable  for  the  cause  in 
those  rapidly  growing  cities. 

The  summary  of  state  mission  work  for  this  year 
was  837  sermons  by  fourteen  missionaries,  and  376  bap- 
tisms. None  of  the  missionaries  did  more  than  three 
months'  labor,  and  some  of  them  not  so  much  as  that. 
The  amount  expended  for  the  work  was  $537.90. 

The  amount  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  from  pre- 
ceding year  was  $523.10.  Amount  received  at  the  As- 
sociation $1,035.94:   making   a   total    for   the   year  of 


86  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

$1,559.04.  After  paying-  the  obligations  for  the  year 
there  was  a  balance  in  the  treasury  of  $1,021.14. 

If  the  good  brethren  of  the  past  are  to  be  frater- 
nally censured  for  anything,  it  is  for  not  using  more 
of  the  money  coming  into  their  hands.  Such  large 
balances  indicate  great  care  it  is  true,  but  as  such 
blessed  results  followed  the  expenditures  they  did  make, 
they  should  have  been  encouraged  to  spend  money  for 
the  Lord  as  fast  as  they  got  it  into  his  treasury.  It  is 
true  that  nearly  all  the  money  the  treasury  received  was 
"sent  up"  to  the  Association  at  its  annual  meetings  and 
it  seemed  to  be  the  policy  of  the  board  to  incur  no  lia- 
bilities in  excess  of  assets.  This  is  good  financiering, 
but  the  board  might  have  presumed  somewhat  upon 
faith,  especially  as  each  year's  settlement  charges  the 
treasury  with  a  balance  at  the  beginning  of  each  year. 
It  will  be  seen  from  the  treasurer's  report  for  the  year 
before  us  that  the  balance  in  hand  at  the  opening  of  the 
Association  was  $523.10.  The  amount  of  liabilities  to 
the  missionaries  was  $537.90,  the  difference  being 
$14.80.  Exactly  the  difference  between  the  receipts 
at  the  Association  and  the  balance  left  on  hands  in  the 
treasury.  So  the  only  draft  for  present  liabilities  upon 
the  receipts  at  the  Association  was  $14.80.  If  these 
dear  brethren  had  been  nothing  else,  it  is  quite  certain 
they  were  safe  business  men.  The  board  seem  to  have 
made  no  appropriations  beyond  the  money  actually  in 
the  treasury.  Unexpected  and  not-to-be  foreseen  inci- 
dental expenses  happened  this  time  to  reach  $14.80,  for 
which  they  had  to  draw  upon  the  reinforced  assets. 

We  now  return  to  Bonne  Femme  church,  in  Boone 
county,  where  the  little  craft,  ballasted  by  faith  and 
moved  by  love,  was  launched  upon  a  troubled  sea. 
After  voyaging  for  fifteen  years,  it  returns  for  further 
equipment  and  reinforcement  to  the  port  of  prayerful 
and  trembling  adventure.  In  its  cruises  it  has  gath- 
ered strength,  having  brought  to  its  forces  many  of  the 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  87 

best  men  and  devoted  women  of  the  state.  There  is 
now  a  consciousness  of  divine  approval  made  manifest 
by  the  enlarged  number  of  supporters  and  the  diminish- 
ing of  the  host  of  adversaries.  The  aggressive  spirit  of 
Christianity  has  demonstrated  its  right  to  assertion, 
while  the  vigorous  and  malignant  spirit  of  conservatism 
has  began  to  exhibit  its  inherent  tendency  to  decadence. 
At  this  meeting  at  Bonne  Femme  church,  beginning 
August  22,  1850,  Roland  Hughes  was  again  elected 
moderator,  after  an  interim  of  four  years.  Wade  M. 
Jackson  was  elected  Recording  Secretary  and  W.  F. 
Nelson  his  assistant.  The  plan  then  in  vogue  of  electing 
the  assistant  by  the  Association  was  more  in  harmony 
with  the  spirit  and  usage  of  Baptist  organization  than 
the  present  plan  (1898)  of  the  appointment  of  that 
functionary  by  the  principal  secretary.  Official  patron- 
age is  no  part  of  the  policy  of  the  simple  democracy  of 
Baptists. 

The  usual  routine  business  of  the  Association  was 
disposed  of  at  this  meeting  in  an  intelligent  and  orderly 
way.  Nothing  new,  or  especially  looking  to  advanced 
methods  was  done  except  an  all  important  resolution  by 
W.  F.  Nelson,  suggesting  a  plan  for  the  promotion  of 
systematic  beneficence.  This  subject  has  engaged  the 
thought  of  the  best  minds  and  most  devoted  spirits  of 
the  denomination  for  many  years,  and  even  now  it  is 
difficult  to  induce  all  of  the  churches  to  adopt  and  ad- 
here to  a  practical  system  for  raising  the  money  needed 
to  carry  on  the  work  of  the  world's  evangelization.  At 
the  semi-centennial  meeting  in  1884,  the  General  Asso- 
ciation provided  for  the  publication  of  the  plan  of 
"Church  Finances"  prepared  for  the  Columbia  church 
by  the  learned,  painstaking  and  methodical  A.  F.  Fleet, 
and  adopted  by  the  church.  The  workings  of  this  plan 
were  eminently  successful  in  that  church,  calling  out 
more  liberal  and  more  equally  distributed  contributions 
to  church  revenues  and  to  the  various  missionary  and 


SS  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

educational  enterprises  of  the  denomination ;  as  well  as 
to  effectually  do  away  with  the  friction  and  unprofitable 
discussions  so  frequently  occasioned  by  irregular  and 
haphazard  management  of  church  finances.  The  ex- 
cellent paper  by  Dr.  Fleet  was  published  in  the  semi- 
centennial volume  of  the  General  Association  and 
should  be  carefully  studied  by  all  deacons  and  church 
finance  committees. 

The  work  of  the  year  and  results  as  reported  by  the 
executive  board  to  this  meeting  of  the  Association 
shows  the  employment  and  work  of  fourteen  missiona- 
ries, each  for  a  part  only  of  the  year — as  a  rule  ninety 
days'  work  by  each  missionary.  These  laborers  in  the 
vineyard  reported  955  sermons  and  257  conversions  and 
baptisms.  The  amount  of  money  expended  for  the  work 
was  $77 1 — not  as  much  as  one  dollar  per  sermon.  The 
amount  left  in  the  treasury  for  the  next  year's  work 
was  $638.44. 

The  meeting  in  185 1  was  held  with  the  church  at 
Liberty,  Clay  county.  Roland  Hughes  was  re-elected 
moderator,  M.  F.  Price  and  R.  S.  Thomas  secretaries. 
Foreign  missions.  Bible  distribution,  Wm.  Jewell  Col- 
lege, Sunday  Schools,  Religious  Periodicals  received 
due  attention. 

The  state  mission  work  is  summed  up  by  Wade 
M.  Jackson,  secretary  of  the  executive  board,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words  and  figures,  to  wit :  "Aggregate  amount 
of  labor,  three  years  and  three  and  a  half  months; 
amount  of  compensation,  $667:  three  hundred  (300) 
baptisms.  Four  missionaries  have  not  reported  to  the 
board ;  their  aggregate  appointment  is  fourteen  months. 
Total  collections  for  the  year,  $2,118.84." 

The  meeting" in  1852  was  with  the  Bethel  church  in 
Saline  county.  Of  this  church  the  now  venerable  and 
much  loved  and  honored  W.  M.  Bell  was  then  the 
youthful,  but  well  informed  and  vigorous  pastor.  In 
some  following  pages  of  this  book  may  be  found  further 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  S9 

reference  to  the  long  career  of  this  man  of  influence  in 
the  General  Association. 

The  Association  was  organized  by  the  re-election  of 
the  officers  of  the  preceding  meeting. 

The  principal  item  of  business  aside  from  the  rou- 
tine was  the  offering  of  an  amendment  to  the  constitu- 
tion, by  W.  M.  Bell,  which  became  the  financial  basis 
of    representation    in    the    General  Association. 

At  this  meeting  the  death  of  Dr.  Wm.  Jewell  was 
announced.  While  all  living  men  fully  realize  the  inev- 
itableness  of  death,  and  know  that  not  even  the  best  and 
greatest  have  exemption  from  the  appointment  unto  all 
men  to  die,  the  death  of  an  honored  colaborer  and 
leader  brings  sadness  to  the  hearts  of  his  fellow-helpers 
and  flings  a  cloud  of  gloom  over  assemblages  of  those 
used  to  his  presence,  counsel  and  loving  cooperation. 
Than  Dr.  Wm.  Jewell,  no  man  of  his  period  was  more 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  more  disinterested  in  his 
eiiforts  nor  more  cheerfully  self-sacrificing.  The  meet- 
ing at  Bethel  adopted  and  put  to  record  a  suitable  me- 
morial of  their  honored  brother,  written  by  R.  S. 
Thomas.  This  memorial  may  be  found  in  full  in  the 
chapter  on  Education. 

The  revenues  for  the  year  ending  with  the  meeting 
of  the  Association,  including  amounts  sent  up  to  the 
meeting,  was  $1,480.85.  The  sum  expended  for  mis- 
sionary work  for  the  year  was  $576.  which  left  a  bal- 
ance in  the  treasury  of  $904.85.  Eleven  missionaries 
reported  1,284  days  labor,  1,059  sermons,  291  baptisms. 
Here  again  we  have  an  exhibit  of  the  comparative  in- 
expensiveness  of  missionary  labor  in  state  mission 
work.  These  1,284  days  labor  cost  less  than  fifty  cents 
a  day.  The  sermons  cost  but  little  over  that  amount 
for  each  sermon.  The  1,284  days  is  only  a  fraction  less 
than  three  years  and  three  months  service,  say,  of  one 
man,  and  this  for  $576.     It  is  less  than  a  farm  hand  at 


90  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

$15  a  month.  Nevertheless  there  remain  some  Bap- 
tists on  earth  who  seem  to  think  that  missionaries 
are  mercenary  hirelings  and  that  missionary  work  is 
too  expensive.  Let  us  deal  gently  with  these  misguided 
brethren  who  seem  blinded  by  the  god  of  this  lower 
world.  One  great  work  for  our  General  Association 
fathers  was  the  enlarged  apprehension  of  the  nature 
and  business  of  the  church  in  the  earth.  Much 
of  the  same  work  remains  to  be  done.  The  General 
Association  can  not  do  a  better  work  than  to  dissemi- 
nate that  knowledge  of  missions  that  will  serve  to  en- 
lighten the  understanding  and  open  the  hearts  of  the 
many  Baptists  who  are  non-missionary.  We  have  not 
many  "Antis,"  but  the  nous  are  all  but  innumerable. 

At  this  Bethel  session  of  the  Association,  there 
was  a  manifest  increase  of  interest  in  missionary  work 
at  centers  of  population.  Three  hundred  dollars  were 
appropriated  for  St.  Louis,  $200  for  Jefferson  City, 
$100  for  St.  Joseph  and  $75  for  Waverly. 

In  1853  the  General  Association  met  with  the 
church  in  Fayette,  Howard  county.  At  this  late  date 
it  strikes  the  searcher  of  the  old  records  as  a  little  re- 
markable that  as  Howard  county  and  Fayette  had  been 
the  official  home  of  the  Association  from  almost  the 
time  of  its  origin,  that  this  is  its  first  meeting  with  the 
Fayette  church. 

Roland  Hughes  was  again  elected  moderator  and 
R.  S.  Thomas  recording  secretary. 

Aside  from  routine  business,  the  most  important 
matter  introduced  to  and  claiming  the  attention  of  the 
Association  was  the  "German  Mission  Society."  The 
work  of  missions  among  the  Germans  in  Missouri  had 
before  received  the  earnest  attention  of  the  Association, 
at  its  meeting  in  1849,  ^^  recommended  the  formation  of 
a  special  missionary  organization  for  the  Germans.  At 
this  meeting  (1853)  a  report  was  submitted  by  Thomas 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  91 

F.  Lockett,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  German  Mis- 
sions, in  which  the  Association  was  reminded  that  it 
had  "in  the  most  exphcit  manner  declared  the  impor- 
tance of  giving  the  gospel  of  Christ  to  the  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  Germans  now  at  our  doors.  Your  com- 
mittee have  good  reason  to  believe  that  there  are  now 
largely  over  a  hundred  thousand  Germans  in  our  state, 
and  month  after  month  increasing  numbers  flock  to  our 
shores.  The  German  population  of  our  state  is  des- 
tined to  be  very  large,  if  not  predominant.  The  25,- 
000  Baptists  of  Missouri  must  supply  this  starving  mul- 
titude with  the  bread  of  life.  *  *  *  During  the  last 
year  the  German  Mission  Society  received  into  its  treas- 
ury $766.85.  They  employed  four  missionaries,  three 
of  whom  labored  in  our  state.  Their  success  has  been 
truly  encouraging.  =>=  *  *  They  are  now  endeavoring 
to  form  a  connection  with  Rochester  University,  by 
which  suitable  men  may  be  supplied  for  German  mis- 
sions." *  *  *  The  report  concludes  with  this  resolution : 
"We  earnestly  recommend  the  cause  of  German  mis- 
sions to  the  liberality  of  our  churches." 

This  action  of  the  General  Association  in  1853, 
suggests  some  reflections  for  Missouri  Baptists  in 
1898:  (i)  There  are  now  fully  800,000  Germans  in 
Missouri,  there  are  still  "increasing  numbers  flocking 
to  our  shores."  German  rationalism,  German  infidelity 
and  German  Lutherism  must  influence  our  American 
population  unless  the  Germans  are  brought  under  the 
power  of  Truth.  (2)  The  connection  of  the  German 
Association  with  "Rochester  University"  has  been 
formed  and  the  theological  seminary  at  Rochester  now 
has — and  for  years  has  had — a  special  department  for 
the  education  of  German  preachers  to  meet  the  demands 
for  German  evangelization  in  the  United  States.  This 
Rochester  work  has  time  and  again  of  late  years  been 
presented  to  our  General  Association,  but  is  the  sub- 
ject sufficiently  emphasized  by  the  action  of  that  body? 


92    .  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

There  are  perhaps  in  the  United  States  not  more  than 
two  or  three  states  that  should  be  more  interested  in 
German  missions  than  Missouri.  Many  of  the  best  agri- 
cultural lands  of  the  state  are  falling  into  the  hands  of 
Germans;  as  merchants  and  traders  they  are  almost 
daily  becoming  more  numerous.  As  their  numbers 
and  wealth  increase  their  influence  becomes  greater. 
Our  duty  to  ourselves  is  equalled  only  by  our  obliga- 
tions to  them.  For  their  souls'  sakes  we  should  offer 
Christ  to  them,  for  our  sakes  we  should  seek  to 
turn  them  from  their  preconceived  and  traditional 
errors.  Germans  have  the  elements  of  good  citizen- 
ship, and  the  qualities  for  sturdy  Baptists  when  con- 
verted to  the  truth.  (3)  The  25,000  Baptists  of  Mis- 
souri have  increased  since  1853  to  150,000;  the  ratio  of 
increase  does  not  equal  that  of  the  increase  of  the  Ger- 
man population.  They  have  increased  eight  to  one ;  Bap- 
tists increase  is  only  six  to  one  since  1853.  These  facts 
and  figures  suggest  the  importance  of  German  missions 
in  Missouri. 

The  amount  of  money  collected  for  the  year  ending 
with  the  meeting  at  Fayette,  including  the  sums  sent  to 
the  meeting,  was  $1,282.72.  Amount  paid  to  mission- 
aries, $1,077.46.  Expense  account:  Minutes,  etc., 
$162.33.  Leaving  in  the  treasury  $42.93.  Sermons 
preached,  989.     Baptisms  reported,  329. 

The  next  meeting,  1854,  was  held  at  Union  Hill, 
in  Callaway  county.  Roland  Hughes  was  chosen  mod- 
erator; S.  B.  Johnson  and  D.  H.  Hickman  secretaries. 

This  meeting  was  remarkable  for  three  particulars : 

(i)  It  was  the  last  meeting  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation over  which  Roland  Hughes  presided,  which 
made  seven  sessions  altogether — 1844-45  and  1850-54. 
He  was  an  eminent  citizen  and  a  devoted  and  worthy 
christian.  He  was  "mild  and  conservative  in  all  his 
views,  commanding  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  his 
brethren,  ever  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work,  and 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  93 

deservedly  wielded  more  influence  with  the  denomina- 
tion than  any  other  lay  member  in  the  state."  The 
writer,  in  making  inquiry  concerning  the  eminent  men 
of  the  early  days  of  the  Association,  was  told  that  Ro- 
land Hughes  continued  the  manufacture  of  whiskey 
after  he  became  a  church  member,  deriving  great  profits 
from  the  business.  Unwilling  to  believe  that  such 
could  have  been  the  fact  in  the  case,  the  writer  made 
inquiry  of  Mrs.  Majors,  the  widow  of  Samuel  C.  Ma- 
jors, Sr.,  and  from  her  he  learned  that  Mr.  Hughes 
abandoned  the  business  of  a  distiller  at  or  before  his 
conversion  and  that  he  never  resumed  it.  He  certainly 
never  could  have  attained  to  his  great  influence  in  a 
great  christian  denomination  had  he  conducted  that 
business  while  a  church  member.  He  was  generous 
with  his  means,  but  judicious  in  its  expenditure.  He 
appropriated  a  portion  of  his  worldly  goods  to  the  edu- 
cation of  Tyre  C.  Harris,  who  though  dying  at  the  age 
of  thirty  years,  attained  great  popularity  and  eminent 
usefulness. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1790.  At 
the  age  of  29  years  he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in 
Howard  county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  the 
day  of  his  death — honored  in  life  and  affectionately  re- 
membered after  death. 

Mr.  Hughes  and  his  talented  young  beneficiary 
both  died  in  the  same  associational  year,  1854-55,  and  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Association  at  Palmyra  in  1855,  the 
executive  board  introduces  its  annual  report  by  suitable 
reference  to  the  sad  dispensation,  and  says :  "Bro. 
Hughes,  by  diligence  in  business,  had  acquired  a  more 
than  ordinary  share  of  this  world's  goods,  and  qualified 
by  that  practical  good  sense  which  so  eminently  distin- 
guished him,  he  appropriated  a  portion  of  it  to  the  ed- 
ucation of  Bro.  Harris,  whose  piety  and  aptness  to 
teach  gave  early  promise  of  his  being  called  to  the  gos- 
pel ministry,  and  whose  success  in  that  department  is 


94  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

so  well  known  throughout  the  state.  'Though  dead,  they 
yet  speak.'  " 

(2)  At  this  Union  Hill  meeting  Wm.  M.  McPher- 
son  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted:  "Whereas,  The  objects  of  this  Association 
being  to  'promote  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  and  the 
spread  of  Divine  Truth  in  this  state,'  Therefore : 

"Resolved,  That  the  appointment  of  committees  be 
limited  to  the  following  subjects,  viz. :  On  preaching, 
on  nominations,  on  Sunday  Schools,  on  list  of  minis- 
ters, on  finance,  on  the  best  means  of  supplying  the 
home  field."  The  result  of  this  resolution  was  that  no 
report  was  made  on  Foreign  Missions,  Southern  Bap- 
tist Convention,  American  Baptist  Publication  Society, 
German  Association,  Indian  Missions,  American  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  Religious  Periodicals  or  the 
William  Jewell  College,  all  of  which  subjects  had  hith- 
erto for  several  years  been  reported  on  by  committees 
raised  for  the  special  purposes. 

This  action  was  taken,  no  doubt,  in  response  to  a 
feeling  somewhat  prevalent  that  the  Association  could 
not  under  its  constitution  consider  any  subject  not  im- 
mediately connected  with  the  work  in  the  state.  Yet  it  is 
a  little  surprising  that  the  brethren  did  not  see  that  the 
distribution  of  the  Bible,  religious  periodicals  and  chris- 
tian education  were  efficient  means  for  the  "spread  of 
divine  truth  in  the  state."  Even  "strict  construction- 
ists"could  not  fail  to  recognize  the  power  of  these  agen- 
cies in  the  spread  of  divine  truth.  But  there  is  no  tell- 
ing how  far  a  wave  of  prejudice  may  carry  good  or  sen- 
sible men. 

(3)  A  committee  was  appointed  on  revision  of 
the  constitution.  The  question  of  a  financial  basis  of 
representation  had  been  raised,  and  the  subject  was 
thought  of  sufficient  importance  to  require  time  for 
careful  deliberation  by  experienced  men.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  was  composed  of  men  who  would  do 


Second  Decade  of  Progress.  95 

honor  to  any  legislative  body,  either  national  or  state. 
They  were  Wm.  Carson,  J.  H.  Keach,  Wm.  M.  Mc- 
Pherson,  John  Taylor,  Noah  Flood,  D.  H.  Hickman, 
Wm.  M.  Bell,  and  by  motion  Roland  Hughes,  its  mod- 
erator. 

This  committee  reported  against  abandoning  a 
financial  basis  of  representation. 

The  report  of  the  executive  board  shows  77o  ser- 
mons and  152  baptisms  for  the  year.  The  treasurer's 
report  shows  money  for  the  year,  including  balance 
over  from  preceding  year,  $1,479.48.  These  services, 
including  appropriations  to  city  and  town  churches 
were  at  an  outlay  of  $1,283.48.  For  printing  and 
other  expenses,  $160.  Leaving  a  balance  in  the  treas- 
ury of  $36. 

These  figures  indicate  that  the  board  had  begun  to 
make  appropriations  in  anticipation  of  contributions  to 
the  treasury. 

The  meeting  at  Palmyra  in  1855  was  not  distin- 
guished by  attention  to  matters  of  special  or  unusual  in- 
terest. The  appointments  and  appropriations  by  the 
board  for  the  ensuing  year  indicate  an  advanced  appre- 
ciation of  the  demands  for  attention  to  the  centers  of 
population.     See  chapter  Centers  of  Population. 

Wm.  Carson  was  chosen  for  moderator,  S.  B. 
Johnson  and  J.  E.  Hughes  for  recording  secretaries. 

The  treasurer's  account  makes  exhibit  of  receipts 
$1,186.54,  expenditures,  $1,062.00. 

Thus  closes  another  decade  of  actual  work  of  the 
Association.  Conditions  and  results  have  been  variant 
as  it  has  always  been  and  must  ever  be  with  human  af- 
fairs, but  a  steady  progress  in  spiritual  power,  general 
influence  and  useful  work  marked  the  coming  and  go- 
ing of  the  years.  The  Association  now  realized  its 
right  to  exist  and  that  it  was  a  factor  in  the  forces  of 
religious  and  denominational  progress  of  a  great 
country. 


g6  Second  Decade  of  Progress. 

It  is  now  well  to  pause  for  a  while  in  tracing  the 
marks  of  progress  and  devote  a  chapter  to  the  condi- 
tions that  especially  characterized  the  churches  of  Mis- 
souri for  the  period  covered  by  this  and  the  preceding 
chapter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


TRIALS  AND  TRIUMPHS. 


From  the  days  of  the  baptism  of  the  Son  of  God  in 
symbol  of  his  burial  and  resurrection  down  to  the  pres- 
ent day,  efforts  for  the  establishment  and  enlargement 
of  His  Kingdom  in  the  Earth,  have  met  with  violent 
opposition.  It  Avas  this  spirit  of  opposition  that  sub- 
jected Him  to  the  contumely,  buffetings,  scourgings  and 
rejection  of  men.  This  spirit  nailed  Him  to  the  cross 
and  insulted  Him  in  His  dying  agonies.  Opposition  to 
the  expansion  of  His  Kingdom  has  not  been  confined  to 
His  avowed  enemies,  but  even  some  of  His  professed 
friends  have  been  among  the  most  extreme  and  viru- 
lent antagonists  of  the  progressive  spirit  and  efforts  of 
His  church.  Many  of  these  misguided,  unwillful  ene- 
mies of  the  cross  verily  thought  they  were  doing  service 
for  God  in  resisting  the  aggressive  enterprises  of  His 
people.  Others,  though  bearing  the  badge  of  Chris- 
tianity, were  moved  by  pampered  and  inflamed  preju- 
dice and  egotistic  ignorance  fed  by  well  nursed  covet- 
ousness.  False  interpretations  of  Bible  teachings  of 
divine  sovereignty,  and  misapprehension  of  the  mission 
of  the  church  influenced  the  leaders  of  the  opposition 
within  the  churches,  while  nurtured  narrowness  minis- 
tered to  the  malignancy  of  their  followers. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  any  man  or  any  institution 
to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  question  of  the  relation  that 
these  misinformed  professors  of  the  faith  sustained  to 
Christ  and  His  Kingdom.  If  there  were  no  human  in- 
nateness  of  wrong  and  inequity,  there  were  no  need  of 
the  grace  of  God.  How  far  that  grace  through  faith 
may  cover  human  infirmities,  it  is  not  for  man  to  say. 

97 

7 


98  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

But,  while  charity  throws  the  mantle  of  forbearance 
over  the  glaring  errors  and  puzzling  foibles  of  the 
weak  and  misguided,  it  refuses  to  either  sacrifice  or 
compromise  the  truth. 

We  have  seen  in  preceding  chapters  how  some 
Baptists  in  Missouri  worked  themselves  up  to  the  belief 
that  loyalty  to  Christ  required  them  to  denounce  the 
movers  in  the  organization  of  the  "Central  Society"  in 
terms  of  bitterest  invective,  and  to  apply  to  them  epi- 
thets, which,  if  founded  in  fact  and  truth,  would  con- 
vict such  men  as  Vardeman,  Suggett,  Thomas,  Wilhite, 
Fristoe  and  others  not  only  of  heresy,  but  of  the  vilest 
and  most  wicked  intentions,  such  as  to  put  beyond  doubt 
their  deliberate  iniquity  and  bondage  of  guilt. 

The  personal  character  of  these  men  of  God,  their 
self-sacrificing  labors  and  the  fruits  of  their  toils  vin- 
dicate the  integrity  of  their  motives  and  certify  to  the 
divine  approval  of  them  and  their  work. 

In  1836,  one  year  from  the  completion  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  General  Society,  there  were  in  Mis- 
souri 8,723  Baptists,  all  told.  Of  these  there  were 
5,367  missionary  Baptists,  having  150  churches  and 
seventy-seven  ministers ;  of  anti-missionary  Baptists 
there  were  3,366  members,  having  eighty  churches  and 
forty-nine  ministers.  In  1846  the  missionary  Baptists 
had  grown  to  15,331,  having  292  churches  and  144 
ministers,  and  the  anti-missionaries  had  4,336  members, 
118  churches  and  fifty-seven  ministers.  In  that  decade 
the  missionary  Baptists  had  increased  in  numbers  9,- 
964.  The  anti-missionaries  had  increased  970.  The 
reader  will  see  that  the  percentage  of  increase  for  the 
missionary  Baptists  is  almost  marvelously  beyond  that 
of  the  anti-missionaries  for  the  ten  years  mentioned.  It 
is  almost  useless  to  speak  of  the  difference  between  the 
two  wings  of  the  denomination  at  this,  1898,  date.  Tiie 
missionary  Baptists  have  approximately  150,000  mem- 
bers, 1,000  preachers  and  i,7oo  churches  in  the  state, 


Trials  and  Triiim^ihs.  99 

while  the  Antis  arc  not  as  numerous  as  tliev  were  in 
1846. 

The  remaining  separate  or  anti-missionary  Baptists 
in  Missouri,  are  a  decided  modification  of  their  reHg- 
ious  ancestors.  They  are  less  pugnacious  and  much 
more  inclined  to  effort  than  their  predecessors.  Many 
of  them  favor  Sabbath  Schools  and  protracted  meet- 
ings. There  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the  educational 
effort  of  missionary  Baptist  enterprise  will  soon  over- 
come the  remaining  remnant  of  the  anti-  missionary 
spirit  and  that  the  warring  of  these  elements  \vill  be  but 
a  thing  of  history — as  indeed  it  is  now.  Nevertheless, 
the  work  and  worth  of  the  General  Association  can  not 
be  fully  appreciated  without  a  record  and  knowledge  of 
its  trials  and  triumphs,  its  warfares  and  its  victories. 

That  God  makes  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  Him, 
and  that  He  restrains  the  remainder  of  wrath  is  demon- 
strated as  much  in  sacred  as  in  profane  historv.  That 
there  was  wrath  in  the  hearts  of  the  early  anti-mission- 
ary Baptists  of  America  is  as  manifest  as  was  Jewish 
opposition  to  the  Great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles.  The 
history  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  Baptists,  as  well  as  of 
those  in  Missouri,  clearly  indicate  the  difference  in 
spirit  of  the  Antis  and  the  missionaries ;  and  these  his- 
tories furthermore  indicate  that,  the  Baptist  state  organ- 
ization of  each  of  the  states  named  were  used  of  God,  to 
suppress  the  anti-mission  spirit  and  to  promote  the 
spirit  of  missions.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  of  human  na- 
ture that  antagonism  and  difficulties  are  necessary  stim- 
uli to  great  effort  in  any  line  of  progress.  There  is  not 
much  room  for  doubting  that  Baptists'  numbers  and  in- 
telligence and  wealth  and  influence  in  the  United  States 
to-day  are  the  results  of  activities  incited  by  the 
opposition  they  have  had  to  encounter,  and  that 
the  aggressive  element  in  the  denomination  should 
have  been  opposed  by  the  conservative  was  no  more 
than  emphasizing  the  stimulus  of  antagonism.     But. 


loo  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

in  any  view  of  the  subject  of  the  unrevealed  plans 
of  the  Infinite,  it  is  historically  true  that  Baptist 
General  organizations  for  cooperative  effort  in  the 
spread  of  divine  truth  and  in  winning  souls  to  Christ 
have  been  under  God  the  means  of  uplifting  the  denom- 
ination and  making  it  the  means  for  the  exaltation  of 
truth  and  the  suppression  of  error.  The  influence  of 
Baptists  in  emphasizing  the  great  doctrine  of  soul  lib- 
erty and  the  rights  and  obligations  of  the  individual 
conscience,  could  never  have  been  so  potent  and  prac- 
tically operative  as  it  is,  if  there  had  been  no  organized 
aggressive  movements  against  sin  and  organized  error. 
That  unscriptural  practices  of  other  denominations  in 
the  United  States  have  been  held  in  obeyance  and 
greatly  decimated  by  Baptist  influence,  all  candid  minds 
are  forced  to  confess.  The  doctrines  of  a  converted 
church  membership  and  believers'  baptism  as  the  onlv 
scriptural  baptism  have  wielded  an  influence  almost  rev- 
olutionary on  other  denominations.  If  Baptists  hold 
the  Truth  in  its  New  Testament  integrity,  earnestly 
contending  for  the  faith  once  for  all  delivered  to  the 
saints,  and  keep  the  ordinances  as  they  were  delivered 
to  the  early  christians — and  it  can  not  be  shown  that 
they  do  not — then  their  influence  on  the  life,  thought 
and  progress  of  the  world  is  a  fact  for  which  they 
should  ever  be  profoundly  grateful  and  becomingly 
humble.  That  the  degree  of  influence  which  they  have 
attained  could  have  been  possible  without  united  and 
cooperative  effort  is  not  to  be  even  so  much  as  surmised. 
While  the  New  Testament  church  polity  is  independent 
Congregationalism,  it  does  not  follow  that  other  organ- 
izations originated  by  the  churches  as  instrumentalities 
may  not  unite  the  mind  and  means  of  the  whole  denomi- 
nation in  holding  forth  the  word  of  life.  Such  an  or- 
ganization can  not  use  compulsory  methods,  but  it  may 
be  the  agent  and  the  channel  for  the  voluntary  gifts  and 
labors  of  those  who  are  willing  and  readv  to  strive  to- 


Trials  and  Triuiiiplis.  loi 

gather  for  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  That  this  is  aU  that 
the  General  Association  of  Missouri  proposes  to  do,  or 
has  ever  proposed,  is  manifest  by  its  constitution  and 
history. 

The  division  of  the  Baptists  of  Missouri  in  1835 
over  the  missionary  question,  while  it  was  sad  and  the 
occasion  of  much  bickering  and  bitterness,  was  not  an 
unmitigated  calamity.  It  served  to  separate  elements 
that  were  only  nominally  in  christian  fellowship.  The 
element  that  longed  to  be  free  to  work  for  the  Master 
was  held  in  check  by  the  assertive  and  domineering 
spirit  of  those  who  theoretically  and  practically  favored 
a  do  nothing  policy.  The  element  that  felt  in  conscience 
bound  to  make  the  talents  committed  to  them  product- 
ive, rejoiced  at  the  opportunity  given  them  to  free  their 
consciences  from  the  shackles  of  an  oppressive  subjuga- 
tion. As  an  almost  invariable  rule  the  missionary  ele- 
ment of  the  churches  were  disposed  to  meekly  bear  the 
frowns  and  contumely  of  the  other  side,  asking  for 
nothing  but  liberty  to  do  as  their  sense  of  duty  dictated. 

It  will  be  readily  inferred  that  the  year  1835  was  a 
year  of  trial  to  Missouri  Baptists.  Not  only  were 
churches  severely  tested  as  to  the  pow^er  of  unity  in  the 
membership,  but  associations  were  perplexed  with  ques- 
tions of  unity  and  fellowship.  In  that  year,  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant Association,  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  central, 
felt  called  on  to  advise  the  churches  composing  it  as  to 
the  course  best  to  pursue  in  view  of  the  disturbing  ques- 
tion. At  the  meeting  for  that  year,  held  with  Mt.  Zion 
church,  in  Howard  county,  the  question  of  division 
of  the  association  was  agitated,  when,  as  a  basis  of  set- 
tlement, the  following  advice  was  given:  "If  a  division 
on  the  subject  of  missions  is  inevitable,  the  minority 
propose  that  it  shall  be  effected  by  advising  the  churches 
to  grant  to  minorities,  in  each  (if  that  minority  request 
it)  a  copy  of  the  records  of  the  church-book,  and  that 
in  all   cases  the  majority   in  church   who  are   for  or 


I02  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

against  the  foregoing  proposition  (which  ivas  a  propo- 
sition to  cooperate  zvith  missionary  organizations)  re- 
tain the  regular  day  of  meeting  and  the  church-book. 
Should  the  minority  in  any  case  request  it,  they  shall  be 
entitled  to  the  use  of  the  house  two  days  in  every 
month;  selecting  for  themselves  any  other  Saturdays 
and  Sundays  than  those  upon  which  the  majority 
meet."  The  meeting  at  which  this  resolution  was 
offered  was  held  on  the  second  Saturday  in  September. 
On  the  fourth  Saturday  of  the  next  month  a  meeting 
of  churches  and  parts  of  churches  favorable  to  missions, 
was  held  with  Mt.  Moriah  church,  in  Howard  county. 
They  sent  forth  a  circular  address,  making  known 
their  principles  and  the  action  they  had  taken. 

The  circumstances  leading  up  to  this  action  of  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  Association  are  especially  interesting  and 
instructive.  One  incident  shows  how  a  mass  of  parti- 
zans  may  be  led  by  a  wily  politician ;  another  illustrates 
the  importance  of  a  knowledge  of  parliamentary  law  to 
a  conscientious  and  intelligent  layman : 

In  1834  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  met  with  the 
Dover  church,  in  Randolph  county.  At  this  meeting 
the  query,  "what  shall  be  done  with  the  missionary  sys- 
tem which  has  made  its  appearance  among  us  ?"  was 
introduced.  The  form  of  this  query  is  at  once  amusing 
and  suggestive.  It  reminds  one  of  a  meeting  of  pio- 
neer settlers  who,  having  information  of  an  approach  of 
a  band  of  unfriendly  savages,  had  come  together  to  con- 
sult as  to  the  best  means  of  common  defense.  It  is 
difficult  to  think  of  the  grave  presentation  of  such  a 
question  in  the  proceedings  of  an  intelligent  religious 
assembly,  without  feeling  the  necessity  for  suppressing 
a  smile.  The  fact  that  such  an  incident  actually  occurred 
suggests  the  slow  development  of  christian  enlighten- 
ment. Many  were  the  proposed  solutions  of  the  start- 
ling problem.  The  discussion  of  the  subject  brought 
excitement  to  fever  heat.     Fielding  Wilhite  and  Thos. 


Trials  and  Triiiiuplis.  103 

Fristoe,  who  had  attended  the  Providence  meeting  the 
previous  month,  were  present.  Knowledge  of  this  fact 
by  the  brethren  present  excited  a  marked  prejudice 
against  these  two  men  of  God — they  were  eyed  suspi- 
ciously, and  reaHzed  that  their  welcome  among  the 
brethren  was  not  as  of  old.  Indeed  Fristoe  had  been 
moderator  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association.  It  would 
not  do — thought  the  opposers  of  missions — to  re-elect 
him,  and  after  an  active  effort  not  unlike  a  modern  pri- 
mary election,  his  defeat  was  compassed  and  an  Eld. 
Turner  was  made  moderator. 

This  of  course,  was  mortifying  to  Fristoe,  but  his 
conscious  rectitude  and  inherent  dignity  bore  him 
above  complaint  or  murmur. 

One  of  the  propositions  introduced  to  solve  the 
problem,  "what  shall  be  done  with  the  missionary  sys- 
tem, etc.,"  was  "liberty  of  conscience  shall  be  granted." 
This  proposition  provoked  long  and  heated  discussion, 
and  when  brought  to  a  vote  was  negatived.  Up  to  this 
time  the  opposers  of  the  "Central  Society"  had  proposed 
no  answer  to  the  question  originated  by  themselves. 
There  was  present  a  messenger  from  Fayette  church, 
one  James  H.  Birch,  who  was  then  a  candidate  for  con- 
gress. He  was  reckoned  by  the  anti-missionary  breth- 
ren as  on  their  side.  Of  course  he  wished  the  favor  of 
all  sides,  and  offered  the  following  answer  to  the  vexa- 
tious question:  "That  the  subject  of  missions  is  one 
upon  which  christians  might  conscientiously  differ,  but 
we  advise  the  churches  to  keep  it  out  of  their  bodies." 
The  Antis,  giving  more  confidence  to  their  supposed 
friend  than  of  thought  to  his  proposition,  adopted  his 
resolution  with  willing  haste.  The  one  all-absorbing 
topic  now  disposed  of  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Antis, 
they  made  haste  to  adjourn,  as  all  other  matters  had 
been  disposed  of,  and  the  day  was  far  spent.  A  little 
reflection  and  interchange  of  thought  waked  the  victors 
to  a  realization  that  they  were  caught — they  had  con- 


104  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

ceded  to  the  missionaries  fully  as  much  as  they  had 
asked.  Their  chagrin  and  mortification  was  humor- 
ously manifest,  but  they  consoled  themselves  with  the 
reflection  that  another  year  would  pass' away  like  the 
eagle's  flight  and  then  they  could,  at  another  meeting, 
put  a  final  quietus  to  the  missionary  system  that  had 
appeared  among  them. 

T.  Peyton  Stephens,  the  coadjutor  of  Theoderick 
Boulware,  was  especially  active  and  influential  in  stir- 
ring up  opposition  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Association,  to  the 
"Central  Society."  Though  an  anti-missionary,  he 
felt  called  on  to  make  missionary  tours  from  Salem  As- 
sociation to  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  to  fight  the  "mis- 
sion system  that  had  appeared  among  us."  He  found 
willing  helpers  in  the  persons  of  William  Ratcliff 
and  Felix  Redding;  these,  though  not  so  influential  as 
Stephens,  were  equally  active  and  as  bitterly  hostile  in 
their  opposition  to  the  "Society." 

Now  we  return  to  the  meeting  at  Mt.  Zion,  in 
Howard  county.  The  anti-missionaries  were  on  the 
alert.  They  had  allowed  the  Monster  that  "had  ap- 
peared among  us"  to  escape  the  year  before  at  Dover, 
now  he  must  be  caught  and  chained.  Eld.  Stephens 
had  come  up  from  Salem  Association  to  make  sure  the 
capture.  Felix  Redding  was  happy  in  anticipation  of 
the  reddening  the  ground  was  to  get  from  the  slaying 
of  the  enemy. 

There  came  from  Mt.  Moriah  and  Friendship 
churches  messengers  from  minority  factions  who  had 
refused  to  submit  to  the  advice  given  by  the  Association 
the  year  before.  These  minorities  refused  to  be  com- 
forted, and  would  be  satisfied  with  nothing  less  than 
the  clean  cutting  off  of  the  missionaries.  These  mes- 
sengers claimed  to  represent  the  real  churches  at  Mt. 
Moriah  and  Friendship,  and  insisted  on  recognition  by 
the  Association  as  truly  accredited  messengers.  A 
proposition  to  refer  credentials  to  a  committee  brought 


Trials  and  Triumphs.  105 

on  the  conflict.  Stephens  and  James  Suggett,  both  cor- 
responding messengers  from  Salem  Association, 
crossed  swords.  Stephens  accused  Suggett  of  advising 
the  moderator  (Turner)  contrary  to  his — Suggett's — 
own  proceeding  as  moderator  of  Salem  Association. 
Suggett  suggested  mildly  that  Stephens  was  represent- 
ing what  he  knew  to  be  untrue. 

It  so  happened  in  the  good  providence  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church  that  some  wise  brethren  from  other 
associations  were  present  as  corresponding  messengers, 
among  these  were  Anderson  Woods,  R.  S.  Thomas,  J. 
B.  Longan,  Wm.  Duncan  and  others. 

These  visiting  brethren  saw  very  plainly  that  un- 
less a  compromise  could  be  effected,  a  division  was  in- 
evitable. To  prevent,  if  possible,  such  an  unhappy  re- 
sult, some  of  these  visiting  messengers  spent  the  night 
with  Urial  Sebree,  that  they  might  have  the  benefit  of 
his  wise  and  safe  counsel.  At  his  instance  the  visiting 
intermediaries  concluded  to  advise  the  missionaries  to 
submit  three  propositions,  "(i)  We  are  willing  to 
be  at  peace  upon  the  principles  of  the  United  Baptists 
of  the  United  States. 

"(2)  We  are  willing  to  be  at  peace,  if  the  Associ- 
ation will  adhere  to  the  advice  given  at  its  last  session, 
yielding  to  all,  the  liberty  of  conscience  upon  the  subject 
of  missions." 

The  (3)  was  the  one  already  quoted — the  terms  of 
division. 

These  three  propositions  were  placed  in  the  hands 
of  Urial  Sebree  as  manager  and  spokesman  for  the  mis- 
sionary party.  He,  on  Monday  morning,  submitted 
them  to  Felix  Redding,  who  was  the  champion  of  the 
anti-missionaries.  Mr.  Redding,  after  reading  the 
propositions,  speaking  in  behalf  of  his  brethren,  said  to 
Sebree  that  he  would  agree  to  the  third  proposition, 
but  would  not  under  any  circumstances  consider  the 
first  and  second.     It  was  manifest  that  the  anti-mission- 


io6  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

aries  were  resolved  not  to  commit  themselves,  even  con- 
structively, to  the  "missionary  system,"  nor  by  implica- 
tion to  fellowship  those  of  their  brethren  who,  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  individual  conscience,  would  favor  missionary 
effort.  They  were  unwilling  to  be  governed  by  the 
principles  of  the  Baptists  of  the  United  States;  nor 
would  they  stand  by  their  own  action  of  the  preceding 
year. 

When  the  Association  came  together  Monday 
morning  after  the  interview  between  Sebree  and  Red- 
ding, Sebree,  at  a  proper  time,  informed  the  Associa- 
tion that  he  desired  to  submit  three  propositions  as  a 
basis  of  settlement  of  the  pending  unfortunate  contro- 
versy— that  he  preferred  the  first  proposition,  but  that 
if  that  could  not  be  conceded  to,  he  would  ofifer  the  sec- 
ond ;  if  defeated  in  that  he  would  ofifer  the  third  as  the 
last  and  least  desired  alternative.  He  then  read  his 
propositions,  but  before  he  could  move  the  adoption  of 
the  first.  Redding  quickly  obtained  the  floor  and  moved 
the  adoption  of  the  third.  He  evidently  wanted  to  avoid 
a  vote  on  either  the  first  or  second.  He  did  not  want 
his  party  to  go  to  record  against  the  Baptists  of  the 
United  States,  and  desired  to  avoid  repudiation  of  their 
action  the  year  before  in  the  adoption  of  the  Birch  res- 
olution. But  Sebree  was  an  experienced  legislator  and 
prompt  to  detect  parliamentary  tricks,  and  determined 
that  the  Antis  should  be  brought  to  a  vote  on  a  propo- 
sition that  would  show  their  spirit  and  attitude,  to  this 
end  he  promptly  moved  to  amend  Redding's  motion  by 
substituting  the  first  proposition.  Of  course  the  house 
had  to  come  to  a  vote  on  the  amendment.  The  Antis 
being  in  the  majority,  the  amendment  was  promptly 
voted  down.  Thus  the  anti-missionaries  declared  that 
they  would  not  be  governed  by  the  principles  of  the 
General  Union.  Sebree  then  moved  to  amend  by  sub- 
stituting the  second  proposition.  This  was  voted  down, 
and  by  that  vote  the  Antis  repudiated  their  action  of 


Trials  and  Triumphs.  107 

the  preceding  year  by  which  they  had  declared  that  "the 
subject  of  missions  was  one  upon  which  christians 
might  conscientiously  differ,  but  we  advise  the  churches 
to  keep  it  out  of  their  bodies."  The  question  then  re- 
curred on  the  motion  to  adopt  the  third  proposition, 
which  carried.  And  as  a  result  there  came  to  pass  a 
^Missionary  Alt.  Pleasant  Association.  The  anti-mis- 
sionaries continued  to  meet,  and  still  continue  to  claim 
existence  as  the  original  Alt.  Pleasant  Association,  but 
it  has  no  more  than  a  name  to  live.  The  spirit  that  op- 
poses missions  is  so  out  of  harmony  with  the  spirit  of 
the  age,  and  so  contrary  to  the  teachings  of  the  Word  of 
God.  that  nothing  Init  a  lingering  inherited  prejudice 
can  maintain  the  semblance  of  organization.  Some  of 
the  few  who  are  in  the  anti-missionary  churches  are  at 
heart  in  sympathy  with  christian  effort  for  the  evangel- 
ization of  the  world,  and  most  of  them  are  christians  of 
good  moral  repute,  and  hold  fast  to  the  doctrine  of  sal- 
vation by  grace  and  the  perseverance  of  the  believer 
through  grace  unto  glory ;  but  they  seem  not  to  realize 
that  God  converts  souls  that  they  may  be  workers  to- 
gether with  Him  in  bringing  the  Kingdom  of  God  to 
earth.  Notwithstanding  the  history  and  tradition  of 
anti-missionary  persecution  of  missionary  Baptists,  the 
latter  would  gladly  give  the  hand  of  christian  and 
church  fellowship  to  the  former,  and  rejoice  in  an  op- 
portunity to  expound  to  them  the  way  of  the  Lord 
more  perfectly  and  grow  them  up  into  useful  christians. 
The  few  foregoing  incidents,  culled  from  a  multi- 
tude of  similar  character,  are  sufficient  to  illustrate  the 
trials  that  missionary  Baptists  in  their  efforts  to  estab- 
lish the  General  Association,  had  to  endure  from 
those  persons  with  whom  they  have  had  former  church 
membership  and  fellowship.  But  it  must  not  be  for- 
gotten that  travail  of  soul  with  the  Christ  was  the  cov- 
enanted price  for  His  Kingdom  and  the  guarantee  of 


loS  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

its  ultimate  triumph;  nor  should  it  be  forgotten  that 
pain  and  sacrifice  pave  the  highway  of  progress. 

It  might  be  an  interesting,  but  certainly  not  a  prac- 
tical inquiry:  Who  are  the  old  Baptists?  Certainly 
history  settles  beyond  room  for  cavil  that,  for  centuries 
the  leading  Baptists  of  the  world  have  followed  the 
spirit  and  intent  of  the  gospel,  to  carry  the  word  of  God 
to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth;  and  so  far  as  the 
question  concerns  Missouri  Baptists,  God  Himself  has 
put  the  question  to  rest.  He  has  retired  the  anti-mis- 
sionaries, and  rewarded  the  missionaries  with  honor 
and  power  as  chosen  servants  for  carrying  forward  the 
enterprises  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  His  love.  And 
in  this  blessed  work  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  As- 
sociation has  been  and  is — as  the  facts  and  figures  of 
this  volume  will  show — a  chief  instrumentality.  It  was 
born  of  the  spirit  of  the  gospel,  and  though  in  some  re- 
spects it  may  have  been,  or  may  now  be,  marked  by 
some  of  the  infirmities  of  human  nature,  it  has  been  fed 
and  nourished  into  strength  by  the  same  Spirit.  To 
question  the  mission  spirit  of  the  gospel  is  to  question 
the  truth  of  that  which  we  hold  as  the  revelation  of 
God  in  Christ.  God  manifest  in  the  flesh  is  the  gospel. 
God,  with  man  in  the  person  of  the  Christ  and  in  the 
ministrations  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  divine-human 
force  for  the  establishment,  progress  and  triumph  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Righteousness.  To  believe  on  Christ 
is  the  subjective  initial  into  His  Kingdom.  But  how 
can  they  believe  on  Him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ? 
And  how  can  they  hear  without  a  preacher  ?  And  how 
can  they  preach  except  they  be  sent?  The  sending  is 
by  the  divine  command :  "Go  preach,"  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  the  church,  which  is  the  "body  of 
Christ"  and  His  earthly  executor.  It  has  ever  been  a 
fundamental  principle  of  the  divine  economy  that  the 
human  should  cooperate  with  the  divine  in  the  world's 
redemption  and  recovery. 


Trials  and  Triumphs.  .  109 

The  aggressive  spirit  of  the  gospel  utiHzes  the  ag- 
gressive nature  of  man  in  the  interests  of  that  superla- 
tively grand  enterprise  that  contemplates  nothing  short 
of  the  subjugation  of  all  things  to  the  rightful  suprem- 
acy of  Infinite  Love.  But  for  the  union  of  divine  en- 
ergy with  human  capabilities,  progress  would  not  have 
signalized  the  church  of  Christ.  Herein  we  see  the 
wisdom  of  God  in  committing  the  gospel  treasure  to 
earthen  vessels.  God  in  dealing  with  man  communi- 
cates to  him  through  man,  but  furnishes  the  spirit- 
energy  while  man  devises  the  ways  and  means.  Thus 
consecrated  men  are  workers  together  with  God. 

We  have  already  observed  in  this  chapter  that, 
Fielding  Wilhite  and  Thomas  Fristoe  were  present  at 
the  Dover  meeting  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  in 
1834,  shortly  after  the  Providence  meeting,  at  which 
they  were  also,  both  of  them,  present.  The  agency  of 
these  two  men,  and  of  Ebenezer  Rogers  in  provoking 
and  promoting  the  missionary  spirit  in  Missouri  Baptist 
churches  is  too  prominent  a  factor  in  the  history  of  the 
General  Association  to  be  passed  by  with  only  a  casual 
mention  of  their  names.  They  were  not  slumbering  on 
the  plains  where  Achilles  fought  and  Hector  fell,  with 
the  towering  mountains  of  Samothrace  standing  awful 
and  gloomy  sentinel ;  no  night  vision  of  one  in  distress, 
cried  to  them  "come  over  and  help  us."  But  moved  by 
the  spirit  of  the  same  one  that  appeared  to  the  perse- 
cutor while  on  his  way  to  Damascus  and  transformed 
him  into  an  apostle,  found  these  two  humble  men  in 
their  rural  homes,  and  filling  their  hearts  with  a  thirst 
for  souls  and  a  desire  to  glorify  God,  led  them  out  into 
the  destitute  regions  of  a  wild  but  prophetic  country  to 
seek  out  and  save  the  scattered  souls  that  peopled  in 
sparse  settlements  a  land  destined  to  blossom  as  the 
rose  and  yield  its  fruits  for  the  upbuilding  of  our  empire 
state.  Forthgoing  in  obedience  to  a  heavenly  impulse 
they  with  hearts   knit  together  by  a  holy   fellowship, 


no  Trials  and  Triumphs. 

traversed  prairies  and  penetrated  forests  hunting  con- 
gregations and  places  to  preach.  They  knew  not,  when 
mounting  their  trusty  horses  in  the  early  morn,  where 
their  resting  place  would  be  at  night.  But  confident 
that  the  "Lord  will  provide"  they  counted  not  their 
lives  dear  to  them,  and  at  their  own  charges  they  went 
forth  weeping,  sowing  seed. 

These  men  and  Ebenezer  Rogers  feeling  that  more 
work  was  demanded  than  they  could  do,  set  about  de- 
vising means  for  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  thousands 
that  were  now  pouring  into  the  state  to  avail  themselves 
of  its  fertile  lands  and  secure  homes  for  themselves 
and  posterity. 

That  these  men  should  have  been  subjected  to  re- 
proach and  scorn  is  only  what  might  have  been  ex- 
pected from  the  prophesies  of  Him  whom  they  served. 
He  had  told  them  that  the  servant  was  not  greater  than 
his  master,  and  that  if  the  master  was  persecuted  the 
servant  might  expect  to  be. 

In  perils  by  night  and  in  perils  by  day ;  in  perils  in 
the  house  of  friends  and  in  perils  of  enemies  these  men 
fought  a  good  fight  and  endured  afflictions  as  good 
soldiers,  not  to  see  with  eyes  of  flesh  the  triumphs  that 
were  to  follow  their  trials,  but  to  die  in  the  assurance 
that  their  works  should  follow  them  and  that  being 
dead  they  should  yet  speak. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  CIVIL  WAR  DECADE. 
1856— 1866. 

The  bloody  strife  of  the  states  did  not  endure  for 
ten  years,  but  the  latter  half  of  the  decade  which  we 
have  now  reached  was  all  so  disturbed  by  the  unfortun- 
ate conflict  between  the  North  and  South,  and  the  years 
preceding  the  fratricidal  hostilities  were  so  beclouded 
by  the  ominous  forebodings  rising  from  political  ani- 
mosities and  general  unrest  that  the  work  of  the  General 
Association  for  the  entire  period  was   seriously  inter- 
rupted.    A  faithful  history  of  the  General  Association 
can  not  be  written  without  a  truthful  narrative  of  the 
secular  movements  and  agitations  that  powerfully  in- 
fluenced social  and  religious  conditions.     Indeed  the 
history  of  the  church  of  the  Redeemer  from  the  days  of 
its  planting  in  the  earth  down  to  the  present  time  is  so 
intertwined  with  the  history  of  the  secular  side  of  life 
that  many  of  its  conditions  can  be  understood  only  by 
discerning  the  influence  of  the  natural  upon  the  super- 
natural, and  z'ice  versa.     The  Infinite  and  sovereign 
ruler  of  the  armies  of  heaven  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth,  so  superintends  the  affairs  of  men  that  spiritual 
law  shall  utilize  natural  forces  in  its  assertion  and  ef- 
fective operation    in   the   accomplishment   of   ultimate 
aims. 

The  older  reader,  and  the  younger,  who  has  made  a 
study  of  the  history  of  Missouri,  will  recall  the  excited 
state  of  the  popular  mind  occasioned  by  what  is  tradi- 
tionally denominated  the  "Kansas  War."  In  1854 
United  States  Senator  Archibald  Dixon,  of  Kentucky, 

III 


112  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

introduced  into  the  senate  notice  that  he  would,  upon 
the  recurrence  of  the  Nebraska  bill,  move  an  amend- 
ment which,  fairly  interpreted,  would  operate  as  a  re- 
peal of  the  Missouri  compromise  of  1820.  The  an- 
nouncement of  this  proposed  amendment  was  not  alto- 
gether unlike  the  application  of  a  torch  to  a  dry  prairie. 
The  whole  country  was  filled  with  the  wildest  excite- 
ment, and  as  Missouri  had  been  since  1820  an  inter- 
ested party  to  the  slavery  agitation,  the  excitement  in 
that  state  was  especially  feverish.  When  in  1854  the 
"Squatter  Sovereignty"  measure  of  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
lass became  a  law,  after  most  exciting  discussions  in 
both  branches  of  congress,  and  which  spread  like  a 
contagion  throughout  the  whole  country,  Missouri  was 
thrown  into  a  paroxysm  which  manifested  itself  in  ac- 
tive participation  of  many  of  her  people  in  the  bitter  war 
growing  out  of  the  Kansas  question.  During  the  pres- 
idential canvass  of  1856,  when  John  C.  Fremont  was 
the  Free-soil  candidate  for  the  presidency,  the  wildest 
excitement  possessed  the  people  of  the  state.  Differ- 
ences of  opinion  as  to  whether  Kansas  should  be  ad- 
mitted as  a  slave  state,  or  non-slave  state,  divided  the 
people  of  Missouri  and  resulted  in  the  bitterest  antag- 
onisms. Scenes  of  violence  and  bloodshed  were  not 
infrequent.  Thoughtful  and  serious  men  of  all  parties 
were  troubled  by  fears  of  the  results,  not  only  as  to  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  state,  but  the  safety  of  the 
republic  itself.  What  is  the  power  of  congress  over 
slavery  in  the  territories  ?  was  a  question  in  which  Mis- 
souri felt  a  special  interest.  The  repudiation  of  the 
Missouri  compromise  act  of  1820,  by  operation  of  the 
Territorial  act  of  1854  had  precipitated  that  question. 
The  slave  holders  of  Missouri  approved  the  repudia- 
tion, for  they  felt  that  if  slavery  were  excluded  from 
Kansas  and  Nebraska,  Missouri  with  Iowa  on  the 
north,  Illinois  on  the  east  and  Kansas  and  Nebraska  on 
the  west  border — all  non-slave  holding  territory,  the 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  113 

institution  in  Missouri  would  be  troublesome  and  its 
continuance  imperiled.  The  anti-slave  party  were  for 
the  provisions  of  the  Missouri  compromise,  which  pro- 
hibited slavery  (except  as  to  Missouri)  north  of  the 
compromise  line,  thirty-six  degrees,  thirty  minutes 
north  latitude.  Active  efforts  were  made  in  the  east  to 
project  a  large  anti-slavery  element  into  the  population 
of  Kansas.  j\Iany  Missourians,  incensed  by  this  effort 
to  make  Kansas  a  non-slave  holding  state,  crossed  the 
Missouri  river  intending,  if  possible,  with  bullets  and 
ballots  to  make  it  a  slave  state.  These  conflicting  ele- 
ments were  brought  into  violent  collisions,  frequently 
resulting  in  bloody  encounters,  some  of  which,  in  point 
of  numbers  engaged  and  fierceness  of  hostilities  and 
number  of  casualties  might  be  recorded  among  the  bat- 
tles of  history.  Large  and  exciting  public  meetings 
were  held  in  Missouri,  some  of  which  were  so  in- 
flamable  that  hatreds  were  engendered  and  menances 
of  violence  to  property  were  precipitated.  After  the 
adoption  of  the  Lecompton  constitution  for  Kansas, 
which  was  a  pro-slavery  instrument,  the  Free-soil  party 
assembled  at  Topeka  to  form  a  constitution  excluding 
slavery  and  organize  a  civil  government.  This  action 
precipitated  a  civil  war  in  the  Territory.  From  the  fall 
of  1855  until  the  question  was  ultimately  settled,  hatred 
and  violence  kept  Kansas  in  constant  turmoil  with  oc- 
casional outbursts  of  violence.  So  long  as  this  state  of 
things  existed,  Missouri  was  kept  in  a  state  of  agita- 
tion and  disturbance  of  business  and  religious  peace  and 
activity. 

The  disturbances  that  grew  out  of  the  Kansas  con- 
flicts continued  with  varying  intensity  until  merged 
into  the  greater  troubles  of  the  war  of  the  states.  John 
Brown,  at  the  head  of  a  band  of  murderous  marauders, 
by  the  murder  of  five  peaceable  settlers  because  they 


1 14  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

differed  from  him  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  the 
failure  of  the  law  to  bring  him  to  justice,  and  the  con- 
sequent emboldenment  of  lawless  men  to  organize  for 
further  deprivations.  These  robbers  known  as  Jay- 
hawkers  crossed  from  Kansas  into  Missouri.  As  late 
as  i858,one  of  these  bands  headed  by  John  Brown  made 
a  raid  into  Missouri  and  carried  off  eleven  slaves,  and 
one  slave  owner  was  murdered  for  protesting  that  his 
rights  should  not  be  thus  unlawfully  invaded.  The 
Missouri  legislature  felt  called  on  to  offer  a  reward  of 
$30,000  to  be  used  by  the  governor  at  his  discretion  for 
the  protection  of  the  lives  and  property  of  the  citizens 
of  the  state.  Three  thousand  dollars  were  offered  as  a 
reward  for  the  capture  of  John  Brown.  But  he  eluded 
the  efforts  to  catch  him,  made  his  way  to  Canada  with 
the  fugitive  negroes,  selling  his  stolen  horses  in  Ohio, 
enroute.  The  people  of  Missouri  who  had  suffered  at 
the  hands  of  these  marauders  felt  that  insult  was  added 
to  injury  when  they  learned  that  John  Brown,  upon  his 
return  to  the  north,  was  hailed  as  a  hero. 

The  trouble  was  renewed  in  i860.  One  James 
Montgomery  led  the  Jay  hawkers,  and  perpetrated  sun- 
dry crimes  in  Missouri,  and  threatened  to  "clean  out 
Southern  Missouri  of  its  slaves."  They  murdered  in- 
offensive and  law  abiding  citizens.  Again  were  the 
people  of  Missouri  excited  and  the  quietude  of  home 
and  the  prosperity  of  business  seriously  disturbed. 

These  occasions  for  popular  agitation  were  no 
more  than  overcome  when  the  people  found  themselves 
in  the  toils  of  one  of  the  most  exciting  presidential 
campaigns  in  the  history  of  the  country.  The  quad- 
rangular race  of  Douglass,  Breckenridge,  Bell  and 
Lincoln  moved  the  multitudes  to  deep  and  anxious  so- 
licitude. Already  murmurs  of  disunion  and  war  were 
in  the  air.  The  mind  of  the  people  could  not  be  perma- 
nently withdrawn  from  issues  that  seemed  pregnant  of 
dire  results.     After  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  the 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  1 15 

clouds  that  had  been  so  long  gathering  were  now  send- 
ing forth  menacing  thunderbolts.  In  1861  the  storm 
burst  in  fury  upon  a  bewildered  people.  This  tempest 
of  death,  destruction  and  devastation  raged  until  1865. 

Now  as  we  look  back  upon  these  scenes,  so  trying 
to  Missouri  for  so  many  years,  it  seems  almost  a  miracle 
that  the  cause  of  the  Prince  of  Peace  should  have  made 
any  progress  among  a  people  so  distressed,  divided, 
torn  and  tossed  as  Missourians  were.  To  enter  into 
detail  of  all  the  fearful  scenes  in  Missouri  during  the 
war  period  would  serve  to  emphasize  the  wonder  that 
religion,  as  an  aggressive  system,  should  have  received 
any  attention  whatever.  But  that  Christianity  with  its 
enterprises  for  progress  were  not  forsaken  illustrates 
the  superhuman  energy  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 
That  the  progress  of  Christianity  was  retarded  goes 
without  the  saying,  but  that  it  fought  on  against  great 
odds  with  weapons  not  carnal  but  mighty  through  God, 
leaves  us  historic  evidence  that  our  cause  is  not  of  man 
but  of  God,  and  that  the  gates  of  Hell  can  not  prevail 
against  the  church  builded  upon  a  rock  stronger  than 
can  be  combined  of  all  material  substances. 

The  sessions  of  the  General  Association  for  1856- 
7-8-9  ^"cl  '60,  were  held  respectively  at  Columbia,  Lex- 
ington, Mt.  Nebo,  in  Cooper  county,  Huntsville  and 
Liberty.  At  Columbia  D.  H.  Hickman  presided;  at 
Lexington  R.  E.  McDaniel ;  at  Mt.  Nebo,  Wm.Crowell ; 
at  Huntsville  and  at  Liberty  Judge  McDaniel  was  again 
in  the  moderator's  chair. 

The  general  routine  business  at  these  meetings  was 
not  unusual,  other  than  the  experiment  with  paid  cor- 
responding secretaries,  which  will  more  fully  appear  in 
chapter  on  {Agencies  and  Agents).  The  important  and 
interesting  routine  work  will  be  under  proper  chapters 
according  to  the  topical  distributions  of  this  volume. 


ii6  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

The  reports  of  missionary  work  for  the  five  meet- 
ings here  grouped  are  as  follows : 

1856  Sermons  preached 1,098 

Baptisms    360 

Money  collected .$1,569  00 

Money  expended 1,145  49 

Balance $  423  5 1 

1857  Sermons  preached 2,663 

Baptisms    773 

Total  moneys  collected $5,401  93 

By  district  Associations 4,253  45 

Amount  by  Association $1,148  48 

Expenses   $4,788  14 

Balance $    713  79 

1858  Sermons   preached 679 

Baptisms 598 

Amount  collected,  including  last  year's 

balance .' $i,878  84 

Last    year's 713  79 

Net   collections $1,164  87 

Expenses i,878  84 

1859  Sermons    120 

Baptisms 44 

Collections $i,78i  02 

Expenses    1,132  30 

Balance  over $    648  72 

i860     Sermons    519 

Baptisms 40 

Total  collections .  .$2,799  91 

Balance  from  last 648  72 

Net  collections $2,151    19 

Expenses    $2,382  82 

Balance   left $    417  09 


The  Civil  IVar  Decade.  117 

The  work  for  the  five  years  preceding  the  war  of 
1860-65 : 

Sermons 4,978 

Baptisms    1.815 

Expenses  of  the  work $11,327  59 

The  foregoing  exhibits  reveal  the  suggestive  fact 
that  the  closer  the  approach  of  the  civil  war,  the  less 
were  the  results  of  missionary  work  in  proportion  to 
money  expenditures.  The  preoccupation  of  the  mind  by 
the  exciting  questions  of  the  day  and  the  prevailing  anx- 
iety as  to  impending  probabilities,  no  doubt,  diverted 
the  attention  of  the  people  from  the  matter  of  personal 
religion,  and  suppressed  the  zeal  of  .the  saved  for  the 
well  being  of  the  unsaved.  The  nature  of  the  dreaded 
conflict  and  the  possible  consequences  foreboded  a  con- 
dition of  life  that  intelligent  and  conservative  citizens 
had  not  hitherto  contemplated. 

Many  men  now  prominent  in  the  Missouri  pulpit 
and  in  the  pew,  and  a  number  who  grace  our  meetings 
of  the  General  Association  and  contribute  strength  to 
its  life  and  work,  were  too  young  during  the  war  period 
to  have  any  personal  recollections  of  its  dark  days  of 
heated  passion  and  consanguinary  conflicts ;  not  a  few 
who  are  now  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  army  of  the  Lord 
were  born  since  the  angel  of  peace  stayed  the  fratricidal 
hand  and  left  the  survivors  of  devastating  war  to  tell 
the  story  to  the  future.  If  fidelity  to  truth  would  per- 
mit the  historian  to  ignore  the  days  of  folly  of  the 
American  people  'twould  be  a  relief  to  his  pencil ;  but 
such  can  not  be.  Even  the  writer  of  christian  history, 
in  all  ages  is  led  into  the  fields  of  human  passion,  con- 
flict and  death.  This  is  all  because  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  for  human  beings. 

Through  the  following  pages  of  this  chapter  we 
must  follow  the  weary,  dreary  years  of  depression,  sor- 


I  iS  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

row  and  waste.  The  civil  institutions  of  a  great  re- 
public, the  industries  of  a  hitherto  busy  and  enterpris- 
ing people,  the  labors  of  the  bread  winners,  and  more 
and  worse  than  all,  the  churches  of  a  christian  people, 
with  their  aggressive  enterprises,  were  tangled  and 
torn,  and  the  prospects  of  a  people  who  had  grown  to 
look  upon  prosperity  as  a  matter  of  course  were  now 
confused  and  crushed,  and  hope  was  beclouded  by 
doubt  and  dread. 

The  people  of  Missouri  were  especially  afflicted  by 
the  social  upheavals  and  personal  alienations  and  busi- 
ness paralysis  incident  to  the  period  of  which  we  write. 
Neighbor  breathed  hostility  towards  neighbor,  brothers 
in  the  flesh  as  well  as  in  the  church  allowed  sectional 
prejudice  and  political  rancor  to  supplant  natural  af- 
fection and  divide  spiritual  fellowship.  Personal  lib- 
erty, property  rights  and  human  life  itself  were  deemed 
trifling  as  weighed  against  opinion  and  passion.  The 
sword,  the  bullet  and  the  torch  usurped  the  place  of 
reason,  affection  and  justice.  Anxious  days  and 
dreadful  nights  to  unoffending,  inoffensive  non-com- 
batants, followed  in  dismal  succession.  Old  men,  de- 
fenseless women  and  helpless  children  could  offer  no 
effective  plea  against  the  marauders'  bullet  or  the  vil- 
lains' torch.  The  flames  of  christian  homes  sent  lurid 
rays  athwart  the  warm  corpse  of  fathers  and  grand- 
fathers, while  the  moans  of  widows  and  shrieks  of  or- 
phans mingled  with  the  crackling  timbers  and  roar- 
ing flames  of  homes  abandoned  in  extorted  obedience 
to  licensed  cruelty.  Men  were  called  from  their  beds 
at  the  drear  hour  of  midnight  and  shot  down  in  the 
doors  of  their  own  homes  with  none  to  care  for  the  dy- 
ing body  but  wailing  wife  and  frantic  children.  Peace- 
ful farmers  plowed  and  sowed  and  reaped  in  constant 
expectation  of  falling  between  the  plow  handles  or 
from  the  seat  of  the  moving  mower,  or  to  be  hurried 


Th  e  Civil  War  D ccade.  1 1 9 

off  to  loathsome  prison  by  the  hands  of  militiamen  or 
guerrillas.  Demons  in  human  shape  who  took  license 
from  the  confusion  and  general  demoralization  of  the 
times,  went  forth  robbing,  burning  and  murdering.  It 
is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that  in  the  irregular  and  viler 
incidents  of  war,  Missouri  suffered  as  did  no  other 
state. 

It  is  not  to  be  accounted  a  strange  thing  that  at 
such  a  time  and  under  the  baleful  and  blighting  influ- 
ences of  such  social  conditions  Christianity  was  hin- 
dered. Her  houses  of  worship  were  violently  taken 
and  ruthlessly  occupied  as  commissary  warehouses, 
hospitals  or  temporary  encampments  of  prowling 
bands  more  heartless  and  merciless  than  ancient  goths 
and  vandals.  Religious  services  were  sparsely  attended 
at  rural  meeting  houses,  for  men  were  fearful  to  leave 
their  homes  lest  they  be  shot  down  on  the  way  to  the 
house  of  God,  or  to  return  to  find  their  home  in  flames 
or  a  pile  of  smouldering  ruins.  Public  services  in  the 
sanctuary  were  often  wickedly  interrupted  and  broken 
up  by  either  command  of  an  army  officer  or  by  mali- 
cious bands  of  armed  partisans. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  in  1862, 
at  Rehoboth  church,  in  Saline  county,  now  in  the  city 
of  Slater,  the  Sunday  worship  at  the  church  house  was 
disturbed  by  the  alarm  created  by  the  unexpected  ap- 
proach of  a  company  of  militia  troops.  Some  business 
of  the  Association  had  been  transacted  the  day  before ; 
and  the  members  of  the  Association,  visitors  and  the 
people  of  the  neighborhood  had  assembled  at  the  good 
old  historical  house  to  worship  their  God  and  listen  to 
the  matchless  eloquence  of  that  inimitable  preacher, 
Wm.  Thompson.  Here  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  most 
intelligent  and  orderly  communities  to  be  found  in  any 
of  the  states,  had  the  people  been  for  long  years  assem- 
bling to  worship  God.  Fathers  and  mothers  and  grand- 


I20  The  Civil  IVar  Decade. 

parents,  children  and  grandchildren,  uncles,  aunts  and 
cousins,  all  in  spiritual  communion,  loved  to  meet  at 
Rehoboth.  While  Dr.  Thompson  was  preaching,  the 
spell  bound  audience  were  startled  as  by  an  apparition, 
when  through  the  raised  sash  of  the  windows  they  saw 
the  armed  men,  clad  in  the  insignia  of  a  little  brief  au- 
thority, surrounding  the  outer  walls  of  the  sanctuary. 
The  leader  of  these  forces,  accompanied  by  armed  up- 
holders of  order  (?)  entered  the  house  and  perempto- 
rily closed  the  services  offered  to  God  Almighty.  The 
men  of  the  congregation,  ministers  and  all,were  ordered 
out  of  the  house  and  into  line.  Then  commenced  an 
inquisition.  Each  man  was  closely  interrogated  as  to 
his  name  and  place  of  residence.  The  person  of  each 
was  searched,  ostensibly  for  treasonable  papers.  The 
station  of  the  Federal  militia,  of  which  these  troops 
were  a  part,  was  located  at  the  town  of  Marshall,  dis- 
tant from  Rehoboth  church  about  twelve  miles.  To 
this  station  a  number  of  good  citizens  who  were  put  un- 
der arrest  at  the  meeting  house,  were  conveyed  as  pris- 
oners. 

At  this  same  meeting  at  Rehoboth  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  address  a  circular  letter  to  the  churches, 
touching  the  exciting  and  trying  conditions  under 
which  they  were  suffering.  That  committee  consisted 
of  A.  P.  Williams,  W.  C.  Ligon  and  Thos.  Fristoe. 
These  godly  men — though  dead  yet  speak,  and  they 
speak  in  a  strain  of  divine  wisdom  in  the  circular  letter 
which  they  sent  forth  to  the  churches.  There  is  not 
space  here  for  the  document  in  full.  Such  extracts  are 
made  as  are  deemed  sufficient  to  convey  to  the  reader, 
and  to  perpetuate,  the  important  paper.  The  document 
in  full  may  be  found  as  part  of  the  minutes  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  for  the  year  1862,  pages  six  and  seven. 

"Dear  Brethren:  *  *  *  We  are  living  in  a  period 
which  our  eyes,  a  few  years  since,  never  expected  to 
see.     It  is  a  day  of  temptation  and  an  hour  of  darkness. 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  121 

A  clay,  therefore,  when  pecuHar  dangers  of  a  moral  as 
well  as  a  physical  nature  surround  the  children  of  God. 
One  having  no  information  or  experience  on  the  sub- 
ject, would  suppose  that  such  a  time  would  be  favor- 
able to  personal  piety,  causing  christians  to  draw  more 
closely  unto  the  Lord,  and  to  prize  more  highly  the  con- 
solation and  hopes  of  religion ;  but  it  is  not  so.  During 
such  times  the  love  of  many  waxes  cold.   ( Matt.  24 : 1 2. ) 

"The  temptations  to  which  we  are  peculiarly  liable 
during  such  a  time  are : 

"i.     Insubordination  to  the  powers  that  be. 

"2.  Resentment,  malice  and  revenge  when  we 
suffer  personal  w^rongs. 

"3.  Alienation  of  affection  towards  our  brethren 
who  may  differ  from  us,  particularly  on  national  affairs. 

"4.  General  negligence  touching  our  religion, 
church  and  denominational  obligations." 

These  several  points  are  ably  elaborated,  and  en- 
forced by  many  scriptural  references.  Indeed,  judging 
from  the  plan  of  the  work,  the  deeply  spiritual  argu- 
ment and  the  array  of  appropriate  scriptures,  the  writer 
infers  that  the  paper  is  the  production  of  the  chairman 
of  the  committee,  A.  P.  Williams. 

There  is  no  difficulty  in  inferring  that  no  general 
business  of  an  effective  character  was  transacted  at  this 
meeting,  aside  from  the  report  of  committee  on  circular 
letter. 

The  whole  amount  of  money  reported  for  state 
missions  for  the  year  was  $124.55. 

The  treasurer's  report  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial 
Education  was  submitted  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Warden,  cor- 
responding secretary  of  the  Board,  and  showed  the  as- 
sets to  be  $10,385.63. 

There  is  no  report  of  any  missionary  work  done, 
and  no  suggestion  from  the  executive  committee  for 
work  for  the  ensuing:  vear. 


122  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Wm.  R.  Rothwell,  the  educa- 
tional board  of  last  year  was  continued  with  the  same 
officers. 

Evidently  the  brethren  at  this  meeting  were  op- 
pressed in  spirit,  but  full  of  faith :  faint,  yet  pursuing. 
It  was  a  small  showing  of  associational  work,  yet  this 
was  an  exciting  meeting,  and  one  that  must  be  remem- 
bered with  thrilling  but  sad  recollections  by  the  mem- 
bers who  still  survive  that  eventful  gathering.  So  far 
as  the  author  knows  or  has  information,  W.  M.  Bell, 
N.  J.  Smith,  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Warden  are  the  only  survi- 
vors, unless  Thos.  H.  Storts  still  lives,  in  Texas.  Mc- 
Daniel,  Fristoe,  Ligon,  Williams,  Harris,  Keyes,  X.  X. 
Buckner,  Jesse  Terrill,  A.  P.  Lankford,  Wm.  Thomp- 
son, Geo.  Rhodes  and  others  are  far  beyond  the  carnal 
warfares  and  spiritual  strivings  of  those  who  succeed 
them  in  the  work  of  the  Lord.  The  few  that  survive 
them  of  the  Rehoboth  meeting  will  soon  join  them  to 
recount  the  scenes  of  the  Lord's  battles  on  the  earth  in 
which  they  were  fellow  soldiers. 

At  this  memorable  meeting,  Judge  R.  E.  McDaniel 
served  the  last  year  of  five  years  as  moderator.  Rev. 
W.  R.  Rothwell  was  recording  secretary.  Dr.  Roth- 
well was  not  more  than  thirty-bne  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  the  Rehoboth  meeting  and  is  now  of  the  few 
who  remain  to  recall  its  exciting  scenes.*  Judge  Mc- 
Daniel was  then  about  sixty-three  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  in  that  state  was  con- 
verted and  became  a  Baptist.  At  about  the  age  of 
forty-two  years  he  came  to  Missouri,  and  at  once  asso- 
ciated himself  with  the  religious  people  of  his  choice. 
He  was  a  constituent  member  of  Bethel  church,  in  Sa- 
line county.  It  is  doubtless  to  his  holy  zeal  and  intel- 
ligent efforts  that  this  church,  then  in  a  neighborhood 
destitute  of  the  gospel,  was  originated.     He  was  a  man 

•Since  the  above  was  written,  Dr.  Rothwell  has  died.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  Liberty,  Missouri,  December  2S,  1S9S.  A  brief  sketch  of  his  life 
and  labors  is  given  in  another  part  of  this  work. 


WILLIAM    RENFRO    ROTHWELL, 
D.  D..    LL.  D. 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  123 

of  will  and  decision  of  character,  associated  with  gen- 
erous hospitality  and  unimpeachable  moral  integrity. 
In  Missouri  he  soon  won  to  himself  the  confidence  and 
high  esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  fellow  countvmen. 
The  popular  voice  confided  in  him  important  pubic 
trusts.  Though  his  earthly  fortune  increased  so  that 
he  was  able  to  leave  his  descendants  a  large  and  valu- 
able landed  estate,  he  never  allowed  secular  business  nor 
prosperity  to  get  between  him  and  his  love  for  and  duty 
to  Christ.  •  He  was  devoted  to  the  General  Association 
and  would  travel  on  horseback  almost  any  distance  to 
attend  its  meetings.  He  would  preside  when  elected  so 
to  do,  but  was  ever  ready  in  honor  to  prefer  others. 

The  meeting  at  Roanoke,  Howard  county,  was  not 
largely  attended,  and  but  little  business  was  transacted. 
The  introductory  sermon  was  preached  by  A.  P.  Wil- 
liams and  he  was  elected  moderator.  Wm.  R.  Rothwell 
was  re-elected  recording  secretary.  Three  committees 
were  appointed  :  Order  of  business  ;  religious  exercises, 
and  finance  and  nominations. 

W.  R.  Rothwell  made  report  on  ministerial  educa- 
tion. S.  C.  Majors  for  the  finance  committee  reported 
the  state  mission  collections  for  the  year  $263.30  as  fol- 
lows : 

From  churches  and  associations $I93  25 

Collection  on  annual  members  fees 7  00 

Sabbath   collections 63  05 

Total   $263  30 

Samuel  C.  Majors,  chairman  of  the  executive 
board,  made  report,  a  few  words  of  which  tell  the  sad 
story  of  war's  dissipation  of  spiritual  interests :  "Your 
executive  committee  would  report  that  for  the  last  two 
years  (for  the  want  of  funds)  they  appointed  only  one 
missionary,and  he  for  the  limited  time  of  four  months." 
J.  T.  Williams  read  a  report  on  Sabbath  School 
work — no  statistics  were  given.     Wm.  Thompson  read 


1 24  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

a  report  on  schools  and  colleges.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark in  this  connection  that  the  trying-  war  times  inter- 
fered less  with  the  prosperity  of  colleges  than  with 
churches  and  associational  missionary  work.  This  is 
especially  true  of  colleges  for  female  education.  Per- 
haps the  explanation  of  this  fact  is  that  parents  felt  that 
their  daughters  were  safer  at  the  homes  of  boarding 
schools  than  at  their  own  homes. 

There  was  no  meeting  of  the  General  Association 
in  1864.  The  war  troubles  in  Missouri  had  now 
reached  the  point  of  extreme  confusion,  disorder  and 
danger.  Personal  animosities,  vindictiveness  and  re- 
venge on  the  part  of  the  evil  minded,  sent  terror  to  the 
hearts  of  the  considerate  and  conservative,  and  conster- 
nation into  general  society.  In  our  history  1864  is  a 
gloomy  blank.  It  is  as  though  a  star  had  fallen  from 
its  constellation. 

In  1865  a  called  meeting  was  held  at  Palmyra.  But 
little  routine  business  was  transacted.  An  act  of  great 
importance,  however,  invests  this  little  gathering  with 
peculiar  historic  interest.  It  was  resolved  that  a  com- 
mittee of  five  be  appointed  to  report  the  sense  of  the 
Association  ''on  the  relation  of  the  churches  to  the  civil 
authorities." 

The  occasion  for  the  appointment  of  this  committee 
was  certain  provisions  of  a  state  constitution  made  and 
adopted  by  a  constitutional  convention  assembled  in  the 
city  of  St.  Louis  in  January,  1865.  The  call  for  this 
convention,  and  the  instrument  it  produced  were  the  re- 
sults of  the  war.  The  feature  of  the  constitution 
which  the  convention  had  imposed  upon  the  people, 
which  called  forth  the  action  of  the  General  Association, 
was  that  provision  of  the  constitution  called  the  "Oath 
of  Loyalty."  This  provision  exacted,  among  other 
provisions,  that,  "nor  after  that  time  {sixty  days  after 
this  constitution,  takes  effect)  shall  any  person  be  com- 
petent  as   a   bishop,  priest,  deacon,  minister   or  other 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  125 

clergyman  of  any  religious  persuasion,  sect  or  denomi- 
ination,  to  teach,  or  preach,  or  solemnize  marriage,  un- 
less such  person  shall  have  taken,  subscribed  and  filed 
said  oath." 

The  oath  referred  to  in  the  above  language  quoted 
from  the  constitution  was  in  these  words : 

*T,  A.  B.,  do  solemnly  swear  that  I  am  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  terms  of  the  third  section  of  the  sec- 
ond article  of  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Missouri, 
adopted  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-five, 
and  have  carefully  considered  the  same;  that  I  have 
never  directly  or  indirectly  done  any  of  the  acts  in  said 
section  specified ;  that  I  have  always  been  truly  and 
loyally  on  the  side  of  the  United  States  against  all  ene- 
mies thereof,  foreign  and  domestic;  that  I  will  bear 
true  faith  and  allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  will 
support  the  constitution  and  laws  thereof  as  the  su- 
preme law  of  the  land,  any  law  or  ordinance  of  any 
state  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding ;  that  I  will  do  the 
best  of  my  ability  to  protect  and  defend  the  union  of  the 
United  States  and  not  allow  the  same  to  be  broken  up 
and  dissolved  or  the  government  thereof  to  be  destroyed 
or  overthrown  under  any  circumstances,  if  in  my  power 
to  prevent  it ;  that  I  will  support  the  constitution  of  the 
state  of  Missouri;  and  that  I  make  this  oath  without 
any  mental  reservation  or  evasion,  and  hold  it  to  be 
binding  on  me." 

Article  third,  in  section  second,  referred  to  in  the 
above  oath,  made  it  criminal  for  any  person  to  have 
"even  given  aid,  comfort,  countenance  or  support  to 
persons  engaged  in  such  hostility ;"  *  *  *  "or  has  ever 
by  act  or  word  manifested  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of 
such  enemies,  or  for  his  desire  for  their  triumph  over 
the  arms  of  the  United  States,  or  his  sympathy  with 
those  engaged  in  or  exciting  or  carrying  on  rebellion." 

It  will  be  understood,  of  course,  that  the  "acts 
words,     sympathies,     aid,     comfort,"    etc.,     relate    to 


136  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

"persons"  engaged  on  the  side  of  the  South  in  the  war 
of  1861-5. 

The  preachers  of  the  General  Association,  in  ses- 
sion at  Palmyra,  felt  that  the  provisions  of  the  new 
constitution  were  oppressive  and  in  conflict  with  the 
Federal  constitution  and  interfered  with  the  allegiance 
that  the  christian  owes  to  Jesus  Christ,  hence  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  to  give  public  expression  to 
the  Baptist  view  of  the  subject.  That  committee  con- 
sisted of  Wm.  Carson,  John  Hill  Luther,  Nathan  Ayers, 
J.  S.  Green,  R.  M.  Rhoades,  Saml.  C.  Majors,  O.  P. 
Moss,  E.  I.  Owens  and  X.  X.  Buckner. 

The  appointment  of  this  committee  was  about  the 
only  business  transacted  at  the  Palmyra  called  meeting, 
and  adjournment  was  had  to  Boonville  for  the  August 
following.  On  the  nineteenth  day  of  that  month  the 
Association  met  at  Boonville,  when  the  committee  "on 
the  relation  of  the  churches  to  the  civil  government" 
made  the  following  report : 

"That  the  Baptists  hold  no  equivocal  position  on 
the  relations  sustained  by  the  churches  to  the  state. 
While  they  have  taught  for  ages  that  christians  owe 
allegiance  to  the  civil  government,  in  all  things  belong- 
ing to  the  temporal  power,  they  have  likewise  held,  that 
the  state  has  no  right  to  interfere  with  the  freedom  of 
conscience,  the  relations  of  the  ministry  to  their  congre- 
gations, and  the  absolute  liberty  of  the  churches  in  all 
matters  of  faith,  worship  and  discipline.  For  these 
principles  they  have  suffered  in  every  country.  The 
religious  history  of  Great  Britain,  the  annals  of  New 
England,  the  criminal  records  of  the  South,  and  the 
present  trials  of  Baptists  in  Europe  all  bear  witness  to 
the  steadfastness  of  our  brethren  in  maintaining  the 
liberty  of  the  conscience,  absolute  religious  freedom  for 
themselves  and  for  all  men. 

"And  the  progress  of  these  principles  in  other  re- 
ligious  bodies,  and   in   the   popular   mind,  shows  that 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  127 

they  are  not  only  of  divine  origin,  but  that  statesmen 
have  discovered  their  wisdom  in  ingrafting-  them  upon 
the  laws  ordained  for  the  government  and  order  of 
society. 

"We  can  not,  therefore,  but  express  sorrow,  that 
the  new  constitution  of  the  state  of  Missouri  requires  of 
our  ministry  a  certain  oath  before  they  can  lawfully 
discharge  the  duties  of  their  sacred  office ;  for, 

1.  This  ordinance  they  regard  as  a  violation  of  the 
spirit  of  the  Federal  constitution. 

2.  It  is  inconsistent  with  the  declaration  of  rights 
of  the  new  constitution. 

3.  It  presupposes  the  right  of  the  magistrate  to 
come  between  the  minister  and  the  Great  Bishop  and 
Shepherd  of  Souls,  from  whom  alone  the  commission  to 
preach  is  derived. 

4.  It  is  plainly  averse  to  the  teachings  of  the  New 
Testament,  which  directs  us  to  render  unto  Caesar  the 
things  that  are  Caesar's,  and  unto  God  the  things  that 
are  God's. 

"We  do  then  most  solemnly  protest  against  the 
enforcement  of  this  oath,  and  hope  that  all  the  ministers 
of  our  denomination  will  remain  true  to  our  glorious 
history,  faithful  to  the  express  will  of  our  fathers  in  the 
associations  of  olden  time,  and  steadfast  in  our  devo- 
tion to  our  divine  master,  who  has  provided  us  with 
laws,  not  only  for  the  government  of  our  churches,  but 
for  our  guidance  in  every  private  trial,  in  every  public 
emergency. 

"But  let  it  be  distinctly  understood  that  while  we 
submit  this  paper  as  the  expression  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination, we  do  at  the  same  time  recognize  the  au- 
thority of  the  state  in  all  temporal  matters,  and  do  ex- 
hort our  brethren  to  hold  them  in  honor  who  rule  over 
us,  and  as  much  as  lieth  in  them  to  live  peaceably  with 
all  men.     Therefore, 


128  1  he  Civil  War  Decade. 

"Resolved,  i.  That  it  is  our  belief  that  civil  gov- 
ernment is  of  divine  appointment,  for  the  good  order  of 
society ;  that  magistrates  are  to  be  prayed  for,  and  con- 
scientiously honored  and  obeyed,  except  in  things  op- 
posed to  the  will  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  the 
only  Lord  of  the  conscience  and  Prince  of  the  Kings  of 
earth. 

"2.  That  we,  therefore,  hold  ourselves  bound 
(this  limitation  understood)  to  be  good  and  law  abiding 
citizens. 

"3.  That  the  requiring  of  this  or  any  other  oath  of 
us,  as  a  condition  upon  which  we  are  to  exercise  our 
ministerial  functions,  is  opposed  to  the  will  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ. 

"4.  That  it  is  our  solemn  duty  to  decline  it,  choos- 
ing as  the  servants  of  God  did  in  the  primitive  churches, 
to  obey  God  rather  than  man. 

"5.  That  we  do  this  in  no  rebellious  or  captious 
spirit,  but  in  order  to  maintain  a  pure  conscience  in  the 
sight  of  God,  by  whom  we  are  finally  to  be  judged. 

"6.  That  we  earnestly  request  a  modification  of  the 
constitution  of  the  state  in  this  particular,  as  we  love  our 
state  and  wish  to  remain  in  it  and  have  a  perfect  har- 
mony between  its  requirements  and  our  ministerial 
duty." 

This  report,  appearing  at  the  time  and  under  the 
conditions  then  confronting  the  churches  and  their  min- 
istry, was  invested  with  peculiar  and  sad  importance. 
As  a  historic  document  its  value  will  augment  as  the 
ages  go  by.  The  Providential  government  of  the 
churches  thrusts  upon  them  occasions  when  loyalty  to 
the  King  of  kings,  and  a  due  regard  for  the  opinions  of 
mankind  make  it  necessary  that  the  supremacy  of  the 
Infinite  God,  and  the  rights  of  His  people  on  the  earth 
should  be  plainly,  afifectionately,  yet  boldly  declared. 
The  report  from  the  General  Association  committee 
will  take  its  place  with  the  many  historic  evidences  of 


The  Civil  War  Decade.  129 

Baptist  contention  for  liberty  of  conscience  and  bold 
asseveration  of  prime  allegiance  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  in  all  questions  affecting  the  duty  of  His  sub- 
jects. Civil  government  is  recognized  and  its  basic  prin- 
ciples understood  by  Baptists,  and  in  America  from  the 
days  of  the  revolution  down  to  the  present,  they  have 
been  loyal  citizens,  but  ever  ready  to  stay  the  sacrilig- 
ious  hand  that  would  subordinate  the  religious  to  the 
secular. 

While  yet  a  resident  of  his  native  state,  and  before 
ever  having  put  his  foot  on  Missouri  soil,  the  author  of 
this  book  wrote  some  strictures  on  the  Missouri  (1865) 
constitution,  which  were  published.  In  that  instrument 
the  two  following  reasons  were  given,  and  argued  at 
some  length,  why  the  ministry  of  Missouri  should  not 
submit  to  the  demands  of  the  constitution  so  far  as  to 
take  the  prescribed  oath  : 

"i.  Because  the  so-called  constitution  of  Missouri 
is  in  conflict  with  the  constitution  of  the  United  States. 

"2.  Because  the  constitution  of  Missouri  is  in  con- 
flict with  the  laws  of  Christ's  Kingdom." 

Subsequently,  to  wit,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1867,  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  in 
an  opinion  delivered  by  Justice  Fields,  as  appears  in 
Duncan's  History,  "confirmed  the  arguments  previ- 
ously so  ably  made  by  Dr.  Yeaman." 

There  were  a  number  of  efforts  made  in  Missouri 
to  enforce  the  "iron  clad"  "Oath  of  Loyalty."Dr.  J.  H. 
Luther,  Dr.  W.  J.  Patrick,  Dr.  A.  P.  Williams,  Rev. 
James  S.  Green,  Rev.  B.  F.  Kenney,  Rev.  Wm.  H.Var- 
denian,  Rev.  Wm.  Price,  Rev.  Isaac  Odell,  Rev.  James 
Duvall  and  others  were  moved  against  for  violation  of 
the  Test  Oath  law.  Dr.  Luther  was  held  in  the  sum  of 
$1,000  for  his  appearance  at  the  circuit  court  to  answer 
the  commitment  by  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Some  of  the 
cases  were  dismissed  by  the  justices  of  the  peace  before 

9 


130  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

whom  the  accused  were  hailed  for  prehminar}'  trial. 
Justice  Quisenberry  (commonly  pronounced  Cushin- 
burry)  dismissed  the  cases  against  Odell  and  Duvall, 
holding  that  "preaching  the  gospel,  instead  of  being  a 
criminal  offense,  is  in  the  highest  degree  commendable." 

Before  any  trials  by  courts  of  authority  to  convict 
had  taken  place,  in  other  than  the  test  cases,  the  su- 
preme court  of  the  United  States  had  made  the  decision 
before  mentioned,  by  which  the  "Test  Oath"  was  de- 
clared unconstitutional.  Upon  the  publication  of  this 
decision,  the  many  cases  pending  in  the  courts  of  Mis- 
souri were  dismissed,  greatly  to  the  joy  of  the  preach- 
ers, the  comfort  of  the  churches  and  the  relief  of  the 
courts. 

It  is  related  that  at  preliminary  examinations  be- 
fore justices  of  the  peace,  of  preachers  arrested  under 
the  "Oath  of  Loyalty"  law,  some  incidents  occurred 
which  were  at  once  amusing  and  illustrative  of  the 
lack  of  sympathy  with  the  law  on  the  part  of  the  people 
and  the  servants  of  the  law.  Before  a  certain  justice 
of  the  peace,  several  preachers  of  different  denomina- 
tions were  arraigned  under  a  warrant  charging  them 
with  having  "preached  the  gospel  without  having  taken 
the  'Oath  of  Loyalty,'  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of 
the  commonwealth." 

The  first  accused  called,  was  asked  by  the  justice: 

"Do  you  preach  the  gospel  ?" 

"Yes,  sir,"  was  the  answer. 

"Have  you  preached  since  the  adoption  of  the 
present  constitution  ?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Have  you  taken  and  subscribed  to  oath  required 
by  the  constitution  ?" 

"No,  sir,  I  have  not." 

"Do  you  preach  infant  baptism?" 

"Yes,  sir,  I  do." 


The  Civil  IV ar  Decade.  131 

"Well,  sir,  you  are  not  guilty  under  the  language  of 
this    warrant.     The    case    against    you    is    dismissed. 

(next)  "Mr.  P have  you  been  preaching  since  the 

adoption  of  the  present  constitution  of  Missouri ;  if  so, 
have  you  taken  the  required  oath?" 

"1  have  been  preaching,  your  honor,  but  have  not 
taken  the  oath  to  which  you  refer." 

"Have  you  been  preaching  baptism  for  the  remis- 
sion of  sins?" 

"I  have,  your  honor,  in  accordance  with  the  an- 
cient faith." 

"Your  case  is  dismissed  sir.  You  are  charged 
with  preaching  the  gospel  (next) — Have  you,  sir,  been 
preaching  the  gospel  without  taking  the  oath  mentioned 
and  required  of  ministers  of  any  sect,  persuasion  or  de- 
nomination, by  the  existing  laws  of  this  state?" 

"I  have  been  preaching  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour 
of  sinners." 

"Have  you  been  preaching  salvation  by  grace 
through  faith  in  Jesus  Christ  unto  justification?" 

"I  have,  sir." 

"What  have  you  been  preaching  as  to  the  doctrine 
of  baptism?" 

"I  have  preached  the  immersion  of  the  regenerate 
believer  in  water,  into  the  name  of  the  trinity." 

"Well,  sir,  I  apprehend  you  are  guilty  as  charged 
in  the  warrant  by  which  you  are  brought  into  this 
court.  Let  me  ask  you  again:  Have  you,  without  tak- 
ing the  oath,  as  aforesaid,  been  preaching  as  indicated 
in  the  questions  solemnly  propounded  to  you  by  this 
court?" 

"I  have,  may  it  please  the  court,  tried  to  preach  as 
already  stated." 

"Tried !  You  are  not  charged  with  trying  to 
preach,  sir!     Stand  aside,  the  case  is  dismissed." 

The  results  of  the  year's  work  ending  at  Boonville 
in  186;  were  not  largfe.     A  rich  harvest  could  not  have 


132  The  Civil  War  Decade. 

been  reasonably  expected.  Bro.  Y.  R.  Pitts  had  done 
thirty  days'  missionary  labor.  T.  S.  Allen  had  preached 
105  sermons,  and  had  baptized  fourteen  converts,  and 
reports  eight  other  additions  to  the  churches. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer.  Wade  M.  Jackson, 
dates  back  to  the  year  1861,  and  exhibits  receipts  of 
money  up  to  1865  to  the  amount  of  $1,100.63,  ^"^  dis- 
bursements to  the  amount  of  $1,145.00.  Treasurer 
overdrawn  $44.42.  (The  minutes  as  printed  for  this 
year,  make  the  balance  due  treasurer  $144.42.) 

S.  C.  Major,  president  of  the  executive  board,  in 
concluding  the  annual  report,  speaks  in  the  following 
touching  words  to  the  General  Association : 

"And  now,  dear  brethren,  as  the  grim  visage  of 
war  has  disappeared,  let  us  pray  that  the  Great  Head  of 
the  church  will  greatly  increase  the  missionary  spirit 
of  His  people,  that  the  treasury  of  your  board  may  be 
replenished,  so  that  the  faithful  heralds  of  the  cross 
may  again  be  sent  forth  to  point  sinners  to  the  Lamb  of 
God.  That  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  may  meet 
with  you,  and  bless  your  deliberations  to  the  promotion 
of  His  cause  and  Kingdom,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of 
your  board." 

What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of  mingled  sad- 
ness and  hope  that  filled  the  breasts  of  the  true  and 
faithful  of  God's  servants  as  they  deliberated  and 
prayed  at  Boonville.  The  past  was  without  inspiration 
for  the  present,  and  the  present  was  without  hope  for 
the  future.  Nothing  could  uphold  the  christian  worker 
but  faith  in  God.  The  triumphs  of  Christianity  through 
the  ages  are  the  testimonies  to  the  divinity  and  power 
of  faith. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

EMERGING  FROM   DARKNESS. 
1866—18:6. 

The  disappearance  of  the  "grim  visage  of  war" 
did  not  at  once  let  in  the  full  light  of  peace.  The  sur- 
render at  Appomatox  was  not  prompt  in  lowering  the 
temperature  of  the  general  mind  that  had  been  ex- 
tremely elevated  by  the  exciting  conditions  of  the  pre- 
ceding years.  The  idea  of  admitting  to  fellowship  with 
the  victors,  the  defeated  followers  of  the  "lost  cause" 
had  not  yet  entered  the  minds  of  those  who  were  flushed 
with  victory.  The  budding  olive  branch  of  April,  1865, 
was  visited  by  a  blighting  frost  in  the  September  of  the 
same  year.  In  that  month,  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
the  month  there  was  an  assemblage  of  Baptists  in  the 
city  of  Hannibal,  Missouri,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing a  new  Baptist  missionary  convention  for  the  state. 
The  provisional  meeting  for  this  new  organization  had 
been  held  in  the  preceding  month  of  May  at  the  Second 
Baptist  church  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis,  during  the 
anniversary  meetings  of  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society,  then  meeting  with  the  above  named 
church. 

The  provisional  meeting  was  organized  by  the 
election  of  Rev.  Dr.  Galusia  Anderson  chairman,  and 
C.  A.  Bateman  as  secretary. 

Rev.  Abram  Coles  Osborn  offered  the  following 
resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  the  loyal  Baptist  churches 
throughout  the  state  of  Missouri  be  requested  to  send 
their  pastors  and  delegates  to  meet  at  Hannibal,  on  Fri- 

133 


134  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

day,  September  29,  1865,  at  the  hour  of  10  o'clock  a.  m., 
for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Baptist  State  Convention." 

A  request  was  made  by  this  prehminary  meeting 
that  the  pastors  of  St.  Louis  propose  a  constitution,  to 
be  presented  at  the  September  meeting. 

At  the  appointed  time  a  number  of  brethren  met  in 
Hannibal  and  perfected  a  permanent  organization  of 
the  Missouri  Baptist  State  Convention  by  the  election 
of  Galusia  Anderson,  president;  W.  S.  Ingam  and  D.  J. 
Hancock,  vice-presidents ;  C.  A.  Bateman,  recording 
secretary;  E.  W.  Pattison,  corresponding  secretary,  and 
Nathan  Cole,  treasurer. 

There  were  present  at  this  meeting  distinguished 
brethren  from  the  northern  states,  representing  the  dif- 
ferent general  denominational  organizations. 

A  constitution  was  adopted,  which  did  not  differ 
essentially  from  the  constitutions  of  such  organizations 
generally.  A  sober  second  thought  and  a  wise  policy 
suggested  the  omission  from  the  constitution  of  the 
limiting  term  "Loyal  Baptists,"  and  using  instead 
thereof  the  phrase  "Baptist  churches  and  associations 
contributing  to  its  (convention)  funds  and  cooperating 
in  its  objects."  The  constitution  made  the  convention 
auxiliary  to  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  So- 
ciety. 

It  was  manifest  that  the  aim  of  the  convention  was 
to  unite  the  "loyal  Baptists"  of  the  state,  notwithstand- 
ing the  omission  of  that  term  from  the  constitution. 
"Cooperating  in  its  objects"covered  the  whole  ground. 

This  construction  is  made  clear  by  the  language  of 
the  report  of  the  committee  on  "Religious  Destitution." 
That  report  says :  "Before  the  war  in  this  state  there 
were  450  Baptist  ministers  and  750  Baptist  churches, 
having  45,000  members.  Perhaps  there  are  now  fifty 
qualified  ministers  and  one  hundred  churches  holding 
regular  services."  The  same  report,  concerning  Wya- 
conda  Association,  savs :    "Before    the    rebellion  there 


Emerging  from  Darkness.  135 

were  in  this  body  thirty-two  churches  well  supplied  with 
ministers.  Now  most  of  these  ministers  are  silenced  ijy 
the  new  constitution  oath." 

It  is  clear  that  the  convention  proposed  to  compose 
itself  of  a  "loyal"  constituency,  by  which  we  are  to  un- 
derstand that  none  but  the  adherents  to  the  union  of  the 
states  and  the  then  current  Federal  administration  were 
qualified  for  membership.  And  that  none  were  "quali- 
fied ministers"  who  had  not  taken  and  subscribed  to  the 
"Test  Oath"  of  the  new  constitution,  and  no  churches 
held  "regular  services"  but  such  as  were  ministered 
unto  by  "qualified  ministers."  This  all  evidently  meant 
the  establishment  of  an  ecclesiastical  order  upon  a  polit- 
ical basis. 

It  is  true  that  disloyalty,  as  it  was  understood  in 
the  terrible  days  of  the  war  of  the  states,  was  held  by 
some  unionists  to  be  the  crime  of  crimes.  Loyalty  was 
regarded  as  a  virtue  that  canceled  all  manner  of  im- 
morality, and  threw  a  covering  mantle  over  many  sins. 
Extremists  seemed  to  forget  that  under  the  institution 
of  United  States  government  "loyalty"  meant  adhesion 
to  and  support  of  the  Federal  constitution,  and  not  par- 
tisan adhesion  to  and  support  of  a  partisan  interpreta- 
tion of  the  constitution,  and  a  partisan  policy.  They 
seemed  to  regard  any  interpretation  of  the  Federal  con- 
stitution not  consonant  with  their  interpretation  as 
treason. 

There  were  many  able  men  in  the  United  States, 
both  south  and  north,  who  did  not  approve  of  the  seces- 
sion that  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the  Confederate 
States,  and  who  intensely  desired  the  preservation  of 
the  union,  who  nevertheless  questioned  the  constitii- 
tional  authority  to  coerce  adhesion  to  the  union.  There 
were  good  men  in  the  Confederate  army  who  preferred, 
under  what  they  considered  equitable  conditions,  the 
continuation  of  the  union  of  the  states,  to  disunion.  A 
proposition  to  unchristian  and  disfellowship  all  partic- 


136  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

ipants  in  and  sympathizers  with  the  southern  view  was, 
no  doubt,  the  result  of  unrestrained  prejudice  and  pas- 
sion, and  under  other  than  the  exciting  conditions  of  the 
times,  would  have  smacked  not  a  little  of  Phariseeism. 
It  is  the  beauty  and  glory,  however,  of  Christianity  that 
the  grace  of  God  in  the  human  heart  is  corrective  of 
even  the  gravest  evils. 

In  September,  1866,  the  Missouri  Baptist  State 
Convention  met  with  the  Walnut  street  Baptist  church 
in  Kansas  City.  During  the  year  then  closed  the  "Con- 
vention" as  subsidiary  to  the  American  Baptist  Home 
Mission  Society,  had  twenty- four  missionaries  and  mis- 
sionary pastors.  Thirty-nine  (loyal)  churches  had 
been  organized  in  the  state,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
convention.  The  amount  of  money  contributed  by 
Baptists  in  Missouri  in  the  name  of  the  convention  was 
$16,297.19;  of  this  amount,  St.  Louis  contributed 
$14,674.73.  The  amount  expended  for  missions  was 
$14,000;  of  this  sum  $13,751.80  were  expended  for 
church  extension  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  The  opera- 
tions of  the  convention  were  reported  through  the 
American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society. 

At  Jefiferson  City,  in  September,  i867,  the  third 
and  last  meeting  of  the  "Convention"  was  held.  Thirty 
missionaries  had  been  sustained  in  whole  or  in  part  by 
the  convention,  at  an  outlay  in  round  numbers,  of 
$11,000;  of  this  sum  $9,140.80  were  raised  and  applied 
by  an  organization  then  in  St.  Louis,  known  as  the  St. 
Louis  Baptist  Union  for  Church  Extension.  At  the 
meeting  in  the  City  of  Jefiferson,  the  executive  commit- 
tee, by  its  chairman,  Deacon  D.  J.  Hancock,  submitted 
the  following  report:  "Soon  after  the  last  annual  meet- 
ing of  our  society,  several  brethren  connected  with  the 
State  Convention  became  engaged  in  correspondence 
with  brethren  connected  with  the  General  Association 
relative  to  the  issues  between  the  two  wings  of  the  Bap- 
tist denomination  in  this  state.    Out  of  this  correspond- 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  137 

eiice  grew  an  informal  conference  of  brethren  unoffi- 
cially representing  both  bodies  which  met  in  St.  Louis 
and  adjourned  to  meet  in  Lexington.  At  this  adjourned 
meeting  the  brethren  of  the  state  convention  came  in 
contact  with  a  large  number  of  the  prominent  brethren 
of  the  General  Association.  The  objects  of  this  conven- 
tion were  clearly  vindicated  in  that  conference  to  be  the 
building  of  our  w^asted  Zion  within  the  limits  of  this 
state — by  the  collection  and  distribution  of  evangelizing 
instrumentalities  secured  by  the  auxiliary  relation  to 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society — this 
work  being  done  by  the  efficient  agency  of  a  board, 
scattered  as  to  membership  over  the  entire  state,  but  lo- 
cated as  to  base  of  operations  in  the  proper  denomina- 
tional center — the  city  of  St.  Louis.  It  was  demon- 
strated that  the  state  convention  had  no  ulterior  or 
selfish  object  in  view,  but  simply  to  secure  the  spread 
of  the  gospel  and  the  upbuilding  of  the  Master's  King- 
dom in  Missouri.  These  representatives  were  accorded 
a  respectful  hearing  and  evidently  made  a  strong  im- 
pression for  good  upon  the  minds  of  many  connected 
with  the  General  Association. 

"Your  board  are  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  in  con- 
sidering any  proposition  for  the  consolidation  of  Bap- 
tists into  one  organization — a  consummation  devoutly 
to  be  wished — there  are  three  things  to  be  strenuously 
insisted  upon  by  the  State  Convention : 

"ist.  A  continuance  of  such  auxiliary  relation  to 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  as  shall 
secure  their  sympathy  and  aid  in  our  work  as  a  consol- 
idated society. 

"2d.  A  continuance  of  the  location  of  the  board  in 
St.  Louis,  as  the  only  proper  and  most  effective  base  of 
operation.  To  neglect  making  this  demand,  we  believe 
to  be  a  betrayal  of  the  trust  imposed  in  us  as  a  state  or- 
ganization for  evangelizing  purposes. 


138  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

"3d.  A  clear  recognition  of  the  Baptistic  doctrine 
that  all  Baptists,  without  reference  to  race  or  color,  have 
an  equal  right  to  a  participancy  in  our  councils,  immu- 
nities and  privileges. 

"While  this  question  is  pending  your  board  believe 
it  to  be  their  duty  to  adhere  to  the  principles  already 
adopted  as  a  rule  by  the  board — to  avoid  all  possible 
collisions  with  the  General  Association  and  its  friends, 
and  to  cultivate  the  things  that  make  for  peace." 

After  reading  the  above  report,  and  on  the  last  day 
of  the  meeting  of  the  convention,  the  following  action 
was  taken  by  the  convention  : 

"Whereas,  The  division  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion in  this  state  into  two  bodies,  whose  common  object 
is  the  evangelization  of  the  state,  is  greatly  to  be  de- 
plored as  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  our  religion  and 
inimical  to  the  progress  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom 
in  the  state ;  and 

"Whereas,  Informal  consultations  heretofore  had 
between  members  of  the  State  Convention  and  mem- 
bers of  the  General  Association  have  given  strong  en- 
couragement and  hope  that,  with  the  blessing  of  God, 
all  causes  of  difference  may  be  ultimately  removed, 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  hereby  appoint  A.  A.  Kendrick, 
J.  E.  Welch,  D.  J.  Hancock,  A.  H.  Burlingham,  E.  F. 
Rodgers,  R.  H.  Harris.  C.  Nevill,  A.  P.  Rodgers.  A. 
C.  Osborne  and  J.  C.  Bernard  a  committee  of  this  body 
to  meet  the  General  Association,  or  a  like  committee  of 
that  body,  should  such  be  appointed,  to  consult  with 
reference  to  a  imion  of  the  two  bodies  upon  the  basis 
laid  down  in  the  report  of  the  board,  and  adopted  by 
this  body,  and  to  report  to  this  body  at  their  earliest 
possible  opportunity." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  report  of  the 
board  of  the  Convention,  and  the  subsequent  preamble 
and  resolution  that,  while  the  convention  was  ready  and 


Emerging  I'roiii  Darkness.  i  39 

willing  for  union  with  the  General  Association,  it  did 
not  propose  such  union,  except  on  conditions  that  their 
"demands"  were  acceded  to  by  the  General  Association. 
It  will  at  once  occur  to  the  judgment  of  the  unbiased 
that,  inasmuch  as  the  General  Association  was  the  pre- 
existent  body,  and  had  never  ceased  to  meet  at  the  re- 
curring anniversaries — except  in  1864,  when  to  meet 
was  practically  impossible — and  had  made  no  overtures 
to  the  convention,  it  was  somewhat  out  of  taste  and  just 
a  little  presumptions,  for  the  Convention  to  demand  that 
the  Association  should  be  auxiliary  to  the  American 
Baptist  Home  ^Mission  Society,  or  any  other  organiza- 
tion;  that  the  board  should  be  continued  at  St  Louis, 
and  that  negroes  should  be  admitted  to  "equal  partici- 
pancy  in  our  councils." 

There  was  one  present  at  the  convention  whose 
quick  and  comprehensive  perception  of  the  situation 
discerned  the  incongruousness  of  these  imperative  con- 
ditions, and  said  to  the  convention:  "Let  us  make  no 
demands,  let  us  require  no  conditions.  Rather,  let  us 
go  to  the  General  Association  and  knock,  and  they  will 
receive  us."  This  one  was  Dr.  A.  H.  Burlingham, 
who  had  succeeded  Dr.  Anderson  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  Second  Baptist  church  in  St.  Louis.  His  simple 
but  statesmanlike  advice  was  heeded  by  the  conven- 
tion. They  came  to  the  General  Association.  They 
knocked.  The  doors  were  opened  and  brothers  wel- 
comed brothers.  The  insistence  at  that  time  upon  the 
conditions  recommended  by  the  board  would  have 
widened  the  breach  and  have  given  intensity  to  oppos- 
ing sentiments. 

For  years  after  the  dissolution  of  the  convention. 
Dr.  Burlingham  was  an  active,  efificient  and  influential 
member  of  the  General  Association,  taking  part  in  its 
deliberations  and  serving  as  a  member  of  its  executive 
board,  had  the  christian  esteem  and  confidence  of  all  the 
brethren.     His   advice  to  the   State   Convention — "no 


140  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

demands,"  "no  conditions"  was  the  beginning  of  that 
reconciliation,  peace  and  prosperity  that  have  combined 
to  make  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association  one 
of  the  leading  denominational  state  organizations  in  the 
United  States. 

The  Missouri  Baptist  State  Convention  held  no 
meeting  after  the  Jefferson  City  session  of  i867. 

From  1865  to  1875  the  General  Association  gave 
encouraging  indications  of  new  life.  Though  the 
years  1865-6  were  not  largely  fruitful  of  results  in  the 
department  of  revenues,  nor  in  the  missionary  work 
done,  nevertheless  the  spirit  of  courageous  faith  and 
intelligent  purpose  were  full  of  hope. 

In  1867  the  General  Association  met  at  Lexington. 
A.  P.  Williams  was  moderator,  J.  T.  Williams  and  John 
Hill  Luther  were  secretaries.  The  presence  of  A.  H. 
Burlingham,  A.  A.  Kendrick,  J.  V.  Schofield  and  others 
of  the  Baptist  State  Convention  gave  especial  interest 
to  the  meeting. 

Inasmuch  as  many  of  the  good  citizens  of  the  state 
were  under  the  humiliating  embarrassment  of  civil  dis- 
franchisement by  operation  of  the  new  state  constitu- 
tion, and  inasmuch  as  the  bitterness  engendered  by  the 
late  war  of  the  states  had  not  been  entirely  removed 
from  all  hearts,  it  is  not  strange  that  there  were  some 
unpleasant  aspects  to  the  Lexington  meeting.  That 
meeting  was,  however,  the  beginning  of  the  better  day. 
The  clouds  were  breaking.  The  sun  of  peace  and  good 
will  shining  through  the  rifts  gave  promise  of  some- 
thing better. 

It  is  not  venturing  too  far,  perhaps,  to  suggest  that 
the  amicable  adjustment  of  political  troubles  in  the 
state  was  influenced  and  aided  by  the  noble  example  of 
a  great  christian  denomination.  The  movement  for  the 
enfranchisement  of  the  disfranchised,  no  doubt  received 
new  vigor  from  the  action  of  the  Baptists  of  the  state. 
That  movement  resulted  in  the  election  in  i87o,  of  B. 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  14^ 

Gratz  Brown  to  the  governorship  of  Missouri.  This 
was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  Missouri's  secular 
and  social  life.  The  Angel  of  Peace  with  hovering 
pinions  was  visible.  Prosperity  smiled.  Progress 
took  on  new  life;  and  the  signs  of  social  regeneration 
were  everywhere  manifest.  The  long  neglected  doors 
of  the  sanctuaries  were  again  alive  with  souls  seeking 
abandoned  altars.  Friendships  were  renewed,  and 
broken  fellowships  were  repaired.  Demonstrating 
again  that  the  secular  and  the  sacred  are  so  correlated 
that  christian  history  is  the  history  of  progressive  forces 
of  life. 

From  the  report  of  the  treasurer,  James  Harris, 
there  had  been  collected  during  the  year  ending  with  the 
Lexington  meeting,  the  sum  of  $3,757.66  and  an  ex- 
penditure of  $3,663.23.  The  report  of  the  executive 
board  shows  that  Bro.  Charles  Whiting  and  Bro.  T.  W. 
Barrett  had  served  in  the  preceding  year  as  general  mis- 
sionaries. The  former  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, 
and  the  other  on  the  north  side.  Besides  these  gen- 
eral missionaries,  there  were  seven  local  missionaries 
and  missionary  pastors.  There  is  definite  report  of 
315  baptisms.  It  is  more  than  probable  that  the  bap- 
tisms were  in  excess  of  this  number,  as  some  of  the 
missionaries  reported  "additions  to  the  churches"  and 
another  reports  "a  number  of  baptisms." 

The  meeting  in  1868  was  held  at  Paris,  in  Monroe 
county.  D.  H.  Hickman  was  elected  moderator.  J.  T. 
Williams  and  John  Hill  Luther  were  elected  recording 
secretaries. 

Records  and  tradition  mark  this  as  an  extraordi- 
nary meeting.  The  introductory  sermon  was  preached 
by  Wm.  H.  Thomas,  from  the  words  "Let  us  go  up  at 
once  and  possess  the  land,  for  w^e  are  able  to  overcome 
it."  This  sermon  seems  to  have  been  the  inspiration  to 
that  meeting  of  the  Lord's  hosts.  All  had  a  mind  to 
W'Ork.     Dr.  Thomas  was  a  vigorous  thinker,  an  accom- 


H^  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

plished  scholar,  all  of  which  was  enforced  by  the  popu- 
lar Kentucky  style  of  oratory.  He  was  a  native  of 
Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  and  received  his  ideas  of 
public  address  from  such  men  as  the  Clays,  the  Critten- 
dens,  the  Hardins,  the  Wickliffs,  the  Marshalls,  the 
Breckenridges,  the  Helms  and  the  Menifees  of  his  day. 
He  spent  many  years  of  usefulness  in  Missouri,  and 
died  respected  and  loved  by  those  who  knew  him. 

There  were  a  number  of  visiting  brethren  from 
the  north  and  from  the  south.  Several  members  of  the 
late  "Baptist  Convention"'  were  present.  The  spirit  of 
christian  fraternity  pervaded  the  assembly,  and  all 
hearts  seemed  filled  with  the  one  purpose  to  "go  up  at 
once  and  possess  the  land."  Wherever  and  whenever 
this  spirit  possesses  a  body  of  christians  there  is  guar- 
antee of  harmony  and  efifective  work.  For  then  the 
good  hand  of  the  Lord  is  upon  His  people. 

At  this  meeting  there  were  147  churches  repre- 
sented by  contributions  to  the  treasury,  and  loi 
churches  represented  by  288  messengers.  The  amount 
collected  during  the  year  for  state  missions  was  $6,- 
260.10.  The  number  of  missionaries  and  mission  pas- 
tors doing  service  during  the  year  was  twenty-eight. 
The  number  of  baptisms  reported,  688.  This  summary 
of  a  year's  work — so  much  in  advance  of  any  other  post 
bellum  year,  and  the  large,  enthusiastic  and  fraternal 
gathering  have  served  to  hand  down  the  Paris  meeting 
of  the  General  Association  as  an  occasion  of  delightful 
recollections  to  those  who  were  present  and  have  sur- 
vived to  the  present  day. 

The  next  meeting — 1869 — was  held  at  Columbia. 
Here,  for  the  first  time,  Noah  Flood  was  elected  mod- 
erator. John  T.  Williams  and  John  Hill  Luther  were 
elected  secretaries. 

This  meeting,  though  one  of  rare  interest,  and 
pronounced  by  John  T.  Williams,  in  closing  the  record 
of  proceedings,  "the   greatest   meeting  of   the  General 


Emerging  from  Darkness.  143 

Association  ever  held,"  was  nevertheless  one  of  sad  rec- 
ollections. The  late  moderator,  David  H.  Hickman, 
and  Dr.  A.  P.  Williams,  a  former  moderator  for  four 
consecutive  sessions,  had  both  died  durin^^  the  associa- 
tional  year  closing  at  Columbia  in  August,  1869. 

David  H.  Hickman  was  cut  down,  and  carried 
above  in  the  prime  of  a  splendid  manhood.  He  had 
not  reached  his  forty-eighth  year  of  earthly  pilgrimage 
when  he  was  gathered  to  his  Father's.  He  was  born  in 
Bourbon  county.  Kentucky,  the  son  of  Captain  David 
j\I.  Hickman,  who  moved  to  Boone  county,  Missouri, 
when  David  H.  was  a  small  boy. 

Boone  count}'  was  ever  afterwards  the  home  of 
the  godly  youth,  christian  citizen,  eminent  legislator, 
and  successful  banker.  He  enjoyed  in  an  unusual  de- 
gree the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citzens.  was  greatly 
prospered  in  business,  but  secular  success  never  abated 
his  intelligent  and  conscientious  christian  zeal.  He 
was  a  tower  of  strength  to  his  church,  a  promoter  of 
christian  education  and  a  tried  and  true  friend  to  the 
General  Association  of  Missouri  Baptists.  His  busi- 
enterprises  were  not  inspired  by  selfishness,  but  by  a 
sense  of  duty  and  the  spirit  of  benevolence.  He  gave 
freely  of  his  gains  to  feed  the  poor,  relieve  the  suffer- 
ing, promote  the  prosperity  of  his  town  and  advance 
the  cause  of  his  Redeemer.  He  once  said  to  Rev.  R.  S. 
Duncan,  "the  more  I  make,  the  more  I  feel  like  giving 
to  the  Lord's  cause." 

As  an  evidence  of  the  respect  and  affection  for  him 
b}"  the  community  in  which  he  spent  his  manhood  days, 
his  remains  were  followed  to  the  grave  by  the  largest 
procession  that,  up  to  that  time,  had  ever  been  wit- 
nessed in  Columbia.  Though  nearly  thirty  years  have 
gone  by  since  the  death  of  the  beloved  christian  and 
honored  citizen,  there  are  many  who  love  to  think  and 
speak  of  him  to-day,  with  mingled  gladness  and  sad- 
ness. 


144  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

A  P.  Williams,  "the  Andrew  Fuller  of  America," 
rose  by  his  own  intrinsic  worth  from  the  walks  of  so- 
cial obscurity  and  the  disadvantages  of  poverty,  to  an 
eminence  not  hitherto  attained  by  any  western  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  Not  daunted  by  the  greatest  difficulties 
nor  discouraged  by  seeming  insurmountable  obstacles, 
he  became  a  reputable  scholar,  a  lucid  and  vigorous 
writer,  a  profound  and  eloquent  preacher,  and  a  leader 
of  the  Baptist  hosts  of  Missouri.  Besides  much 
laborious  pastoral  work,  he  did  a  vast  work  as  an 
evangelist — not  a  professional,  tactful,  sensational 
so-called  revivalist — but  an  affectionate  and  effect- 
ive expounder  of  the  great  truths  of  a  divine  reve- 
lation. His  labors  were  abundantly  blessed,  and  it  is 
reported  of  him  that  during  his  ministry,  which  began 
when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  baptized  as 
many  as  between  three  thousand  and  four  thousand 
souls. 

Before  the  General  Association  was  ten  years  old, 
and  before  A.  P.  Williams  was  full  thirty  years  of  age, 
he  became  interested  in  the  work  of  the  General  Associ- 
ation, and  had  attained  such  prominence  that,  in  1843 
he,  with  two  others,  was  appointed  delegate  to  the  Tri- 
ennial Convention  which  was  soon  to  meet  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

The  death  of  this  distinguished  and  beloved  leader 
among  Missouri  Baptists  was  of  a  painful  accident. 
He  had  been  enjoying  the  hospitality  of  his  friend  and 
brother.  Deacon  W.  J.  Key,  at  Glasgow.  Upon  leaving 
for  home,  and  in  the  act  of  mounting  his  horse,  his  spur 
struck  the  animal,  which  under  the  startling  effect, 
leaped  down  an  embankment,  throwing  the  rider,  and 
falling  upon  him.  The  injuries  received  by  Dr.  Wil- 
liams were  internal  and  intensely  painful.  Years  after 
the  death  of  the  injured  man.  Dr.  M.  B.  Collins,  of 
Glasgow,  told  the  writer  that  he  had  never  witnessed 
such  agony  of  any  other  human  being,  and  in  years 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  145 

after  he  fancied  he  could  hear  Dr.  Wilhams'  groans. 
Death  relieved  the  great  and  good  man  of  his  great  suf- 
fering in  about  two  hours  after  the  sad  accident.  The 
patient  was  conscious  to  within  a  few  minutes  of  his 
departure  to  glory. 

Up  to  the  hour  of  the  casualty  that  removed  the 
honored  servant  of  God  to  the  rewards  of  the  righteous, 
he  was  a  hale  and  vigorous  man,  not  more  than  fifty-six 
years  of  age  with  seeming  promise  of  many  years  of 
enlarged  usefulness.  The  ways  of  the  Lord  are  past 
our  finding  out. 

The  committee  on  obituaries  at  the  Columbia  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Association,  1869,  of  which  John 
Hill  Luther  was  chairman,  reported  a  touching  tribute 
to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Williams,  which  is  published  wath 
the  minutes.  But  no  mention  is  made  of  the  death  of 
D.  H.  Hickman,  save  this  minute,  "The  Baptist  General 
Association  of  Missouri,  met  with  the  Baptist  church  at 
Columbia,  and  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  the  mod- 
erator, Bro.  D.  PL  Hickman,  was  called  to  order  by  the 
secretary."  Why  this  omission  from  the  minutes  of  any 
memorial  notice  of  the  death  of  the  last  moderator,  the 
writer  can  not  say,  but  attributes  it  to  inadvertence. 

The  records  of  this  session  show  that  the  meeting 
was  enlivened  by  the  presence  of  distinguished  visitors 
from  northern  and  southern  denominational  organiza- 
tions for  promoting  the  general  work. 

The  w^ork  of  the  year  as  exhibited  by  the  report  of 
the  executive  board  shows  180  contributing  churches, 
thirteen  contributing  district  associations ;  the  total  col- 
lections'for  the  year  for  state  missions,  $4,898.71.  The 
number  of  missionaries  employed  during  the  year  was 
thirty-five.  Number  of  baptisms  by  the  missionaries 
832.  The  total  membership  of  Baptist  churches  then, 
in  the  state,  was  given  at  45,736. 

There  was  an  evident  uplift  of  interest  in  state  mis- 
sion work  at  this  memorable  meeting.     Dr.  A.  Sher- 

10 


Emerging  From  Darkness. 

wood,  from  the  committee  on  "Suggestions  of  the  Ex- 
ecutive Board,"  says  in  the  report  of  the  committee  to 
the  Association :  "The  General  Association  will  need 
$20,000  for  the  missionary  work  of  the  coming  year." 

This  looks  like  a  large  estimate  for  45,000  Baptists; 
but  it  indicates  the  spirit  of  the  meeting,  and  if  the 
whole  denomination  in  the  state  had  been  possessed  of 
the  spirit  that  prevailed  at  the  General  Association,  the 
proposed  amount  for  the  coming  year  could  have  been 
raised  without  a  burden  upon  any  member.  Fifty  cents 
per  capita  for  the  membership  in  the  state  would  have 
met  the  "need"  suggested  by  the  committee.  There  is 
not  a  Baptist  in  Missouri  that  can  not  give  fifty  cents  a 
year  for  state  missions.  But  the  few  must — as  ever — 
bear  the  burdens  of  the  many. 

At  this  same  meeting  the  constitution  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  was  so  amended  as  to  drop  auxiliary 
relation  to  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention.  (See 
chap.  Auxiliaries.) 

This  was  no  doubt  a  conciliatory  concession  to  the 
element  that  had  organized  and  then,  after  three  meet- 
ings, dissolved  the  Missouri  Baptist  State  Convention. 
The  amendment  did  not  extend  so  far  as  to  establish 
any  substituted  auxiliary  relation.  Nevertheless  the 
amendment  was  not  altogether  satisfactory  to  either 
party.  More  or  less  of  protest  was  provoked  from  those 
who  had  long  felt  a  lively  interest  in  the  work  of  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention.  While  others  thought 
there  should  be  organic  auxiliary  relation  to  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Home  Mission  Society.  But  as  the  striking 
out  of  the  auxiliary  clause  of  the  constitution  left  the 
General  Association  without  organic  connection  with 
any  more  general  organization,  and  as  all  Baptists  in 
the  state  were  free  to  give  any  direction  to  their  contri- 
butions for  General  Home,  or  Foreign  Missions,  and  in 
as  much  as  there  was  no  withdrawing  of  support  from 
any  general  organization,  the  dissatisfaction  soon  sub- 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  147 

sided  and  the  feeling  between  the  adherents  of  either 
the  north  or  the  south  soon  became  more  pleasant  and 
the  lines  were  less  distinctly  drawn,  so  that  at  this  writ- 
ing it  is  rarely  the  case  that  any  sectional  or  partisan 
allusion  is  known  to  mar  the  beauty  or  disturb  the  har- 
mony of  the  gatherings  of  the  brethren. 

This  Columbia  meeting  was  a  "red  letter  day"  for 
the  VV'm.  Jewell  College.  To  the  enthusiasm  of  this 
meeting,  and  to  the  material  aid  then  provided  for  the 
College,  may,  perhaps,  be  credited  the  progress  of  that 
institution  from  that  day  to  the  present. 

The  meeting  of  the  General  Association  in  i87o 
with  the  Second  Baptist  church,  St.  Louis,  was  without 
special  interest.  The  Paris-Columbia  wave  of  1868-9 
had  begun  to  recede.  The  meeting  was  small  in  num- 
ber and  without  enthusiasm.  Business  lagged.  The 
sessions  were  marked  by  the  frequent  absence  of  mes- 
sengers who  should  have  been  present.  City  sight- 
seeing was  more  persuasive  than  the  dull  routine  of  the 
Association.  It  was  one  of  those  apathetic  spells  that 
occasionally  fall  upon  communities  as  well  as  individ- 
uals. 

The  proposition  from  Lexington  that  the  General 
Association  establish  a  state  denominational  school,  or 
college  for  the  education  of  females,  and  which  had 
been,  the  previous  year  referred  to  a  special  committee, 
and  whose  report  was  now  submitted,  was  the  chief 
item  of  business.  The  consideration  of  this  report 
awakened  considerable  interest.  It  was  the  general 
sense  of  the  Association  that  such  a  college  should  be 
established  and  fostered  by  the  General  Association  in 
behalf  of  the  Baptists  of  the  state.  The  final  disposi- 
tion of  the  subject  resulted  in  the  location  of  such  an 
institution  with  Baptist  College  at  Columbia,  and  the 
change  of  the  name  to  Stephens  College.  (For  further 
discussion  of  this  subject,  see  chapter  Education.) 


48  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

At  this  meeting  Rev.  J.  M.  Robinson  resigned  the 
corresponding  secretaryship  and  the  matter  of  his  suc- 
cessor was  referred  to  the  executive  board.  This  ac- 
tion resulted  in  the  future  elections  of  corresponding 
secretaries  by  the  board.  Hitherto  the  Association  had 
made  this  election,  since  the  permanent  establishment  of 
that  ofifice. 

The  amount  of  money  expended  for  state  missions 
for  the  year  ending  with  this  meeting  was  $8,581.11. 
The  number  of  contributing  churches  was  180.  The 
number  of  baptisms  reported  was  653. 

The  year's  work  was  highly  encouraging  and  the 
lack  of  interest  at  the  annual  meeting  is  not  easily  ac- 
counted for. 

The  St.  Louis  meeting  was  the  last  one  over  which 
the  lamented  Noah  Flood  presided. 

The  meeting  at  Clinton,  in  Henry  county,  in  i87i 
was  an  improvement  upon  the  St.  Louis  meeting.  Rev. 
X.  X.  Buckner  was  chosen  to  succeed  Noah  Flood  in 
the  moderator's  chair. 

This  was  the  only  meeting  over  which  the  beloved 
Buckner  presided.  Before  the  next  meeting  of  the  As- 
sociation he  was  called  to  his  place  in  the  General  As- 
sembly and  church  of  the  First  Born.  At  about  mid- 
night on  the  nineteenth  of  January,  i872,  the  sanctified, 
genial  spirit  of  this  strong  man  of  God  fell  asleep  in 
Jesus.  He  was  only  about  forty-four  years  of  age,  and 
had  been  ill  for  several  weeks,  but  was  supposed  to  be 
improving  in  health,  but  a  few  minutes  before  he 
breathed  his  last,  he  complained  of  obstructed  respira- 
tion, and  before  relief  could  be  obtained  his  spirit  was 
with  the  blood  ransomed  hosts. 

Bro.  Buckner,  in  physical  build,  genial  and  courte- 
ous manner,  generous  hospitality  and  unaffected  can- 
dor was  a  typical  Kentuckian.  He  was  a  native  of 
Spencer  county,  in  that  state,  where  he  was  born  Febru- 
ary 20,  1828.     He  came  to  Missouri  in  1855.     In  this 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  149 

state  he  was  eminently  popular  and  equally  useful  till 
the  day  of  his  death.  In  the  pastoral  office,  in  educa- 
tional work  of  the  denomination  and  in  all  enterprises 
for  pushing  forward  the  work  of  Christ  he  was  a  recog- 
nized power.  His  was  the  happy  fortune  to  have  the 
unquestioned  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
successful  in  business  without  creating  surmises  or  sus- 
picions of  his  integrity.  He  was  still  more  fortunate  in 
winning  the  heart  and  hand  of  Miss  Clara  Moss  Prew- 
itt,  who  with  her  clear  intellect,  practical  judgment, 
consistent  deportment  and  christian  consecration,  made 
him  a  wdfe  suited  to  his  calling  as  pastor  and  educator. 

Buckner's  religion  was  that  of  a  happy  experience 
of  grace,  with  practical  application  to  the  affairs  of  life. 
As  moderator  he  was  dignified,  courteous  and  correct 
in  his  rulings. 

Wm.  R.  Rothwell  had  been  chosen  corresponding 
secretary  to  succeed  J.  M.  Robinson.  His  report  for  the 
executive  board  is  a  remarkable  exhibition  of  pains- 
taking and  business  accuracy.  He  gave  himself  to  ex- 
tensive research  for  information  of  all  things  related  to 
the  condition  and  progress  of  the  Baptist  cause  in  the 
state.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  see  it  his  duty 
to  devote  his  life  work  to  that  important  office.  His 
business  methods,  his  untiring  industry,  with  his  evan- 
gelical spirit,  courteous  manner,  chaste  and  spiritual 
writings  for  the  press  in  the  interests  of  state  mis- 
sions, seemed  to  mark  him  as  the  man  for  a  high  order 
of  executive  work  in  the  Master's  Vineyard.  But  God 
knows  best.  To  train  the  mind  and  heart  for  the  work 
of  the  christian  ministry  appears  to  be  his  place  on  the 
trestle  board  of  the  Great  Builder. 

The  board  reported  the  work  of  sixteen  mission- 
aries, who  reported  300  baptisms,  and  to  whom  was 
paid  the  sum  of  $2,000  for  their  services.  The  report, 
made  by  the  corresponding  secretary,  further  exhibits 
the  work  done  by  district  associations,  and  the  amount 


Eniergmg  From  Darkness. 

of  money  collected  from  churches  in  the  state  for  the 
more  general  denominational  organizations.  Such  re- 
ports if  continued  through  successive  years  would  make 
a  gazetteer  of  invaluable  information. 

The  meeting  at  Clinton  in  i87i  is  the  suggestion  of 
sad  reminiscence.  Younger  R.  Pitts  was  in  attendance 
in  seeming  fullness  of  health.  He  manifested  a  lively 
interest  in  all  vital  subjects  before  the  Association. 
The  writer  well  remembers  one  pathetic  address  of  Bro. 
Pitts.  It  was  on  the  subject  of  ministerial  education, 
and  as  memory  now  serves,  his  remarks  were  addressed 
to  a  resolution  offered  by  Rev.  Harvey  Hatcher,  and 
which  was  adopted  in  these  words : 

"Resoh'cd,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Association 
that  we  will  sustain  the  young  ministers  in  William 
Jewell  College ;  and  they  must  not  be  sent  home." 

In  the  very  elaborate  report  from  the  Board  of 
Ministerial  Education,  submitted  by  its  president.  Dr. 
Thos.  Rambaut,  these  words  occur:  Ten  (ministerial 
students)  support  themselves,  nine  are  already  provided 
for  by  subscriptions,  and  thirty  await  the  response  of 
this  meeting,  there  being  no  aid  for  them  save  as  you 
determine."  "Drs.  Rambaut,  Yeaman  and  S.  H.  Ford 
spoke  to  the  report."  Dr.  Rambaut,  in  his  remarks, 
stated  that  unless  the  needed  aid  was  supplied  the 
"thirty"  students  would  have  to  be  sent  home.  Hence 
Brother  Hatcher's  resolution  and  Brother  Younger 
Pitt's  pathetic  and  telling  speech. 

During  the  Sunday  of  the  Association  at  Clmton 
Brother  Pitts  was  taken  violently  ill  with  something 
like  cramp  colic  and  congestive  chill.  On  the  following 
day  he  died.  In  the  last  hours  of  illness  he  realized  his 
condition  and  suggested  the  probable  fatal  result.  But 
when  asked  by  Brother  J.  W.  Warder :  "If  it  is  the 
Lord's  will  to  take  you  now,  are  you  ready  to  go?"  He 
replied:  "What!  Do  you  think  my  end  so  near?  Yes, 
perfectly  reconciled — perfectly  reconciled." 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  151 

Younger  Pitts  was  blessed  with  a  magnificent  and 
magnetic  physique.  He  was  an  eloquent  and  earnest 
speaker,  and  in  Kentucky — his  native  state,  and  in  Mis- 
souri— his  adopted  home,  his  labors  in  the  ministry  and 
his  labors  and  liberal  gifts  in  behalf  of  missions  and 
christian  education  were  abundantly  blessed. 

To  deny  the  force  of  heredity  would  be  to  impeach 
the  testimony  of  the  ages.  Y.  R.  Pitts'  mother  was  re- 
markable for  a  fine  physical  constitution,  a  superior 
intellect,  sterling  business  qualities,  refined  sentiment 
and  fervent  piety.  The  author  has  known  her — after  she 
was  an  octogenarian — to  ride  at  night  in  her  carriage 
when  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow,  the  distance 
of  four  miles,  and  this  for  consecutive  nights,  to  attend 
the  services  of  a  protracted  meeting.  Mother  and  son 
are  now  beyond  the  storms  of  earth  and  the  pains  of 
sickness  and  the  anxieties  of  mind  that  mingle  bitter- 
ness with  the  sweets  of  earth-life. 

The  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Glas- 
gow in  1 872,  was  delightful  in  its  social  aspects,  to 
which  a  cultured  and  hospitable  community  contributed 
in  a  generous  degree.  But  the  work  of  the  year  then 
closing,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  meeting  were  not 
especially  encouraging.  Deacon  J.  B.  Wornall  was 
chosen  moderator.  This  man,  honored  by  his  acquaint- 
ances, his  state  and  his  church  was  one  of  the  several 
lay  Baptists  of  Missouri  whose  piety,  intelligence,  busi- 
ness ability  and  social  influence  were  laid  upon  the  al- 
tars of  Christianity.  Hon.  John  B.  Wornall,  while,  for 
a  time,  an  able  and  respected  legislator  as  member  of 
the  "upper  house"  of  the  General  Assembly;  and  an  ex- 
tensive and  successful  farmer,  real  estate  operator  and 
banker,  never  forgot  his  obligations  to  Christ.  He  was 
preeminently  an  experimental  christian.  His  delight 
was  in  the  doctrine  of  Sovereign  grace,  the  life  of  Christ 
in  the  believer  and  the  witnessing  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in 


152  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

the  heart  of  the  child  of  God.  His  hfe  was  in  harmony 
with  his  doctrine. 

As  moderator  of  the  General  Association  he  was 
dignified  and  courtly,  yet  courteous  and  without  affecta- 
tion. A  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  for  William 
Jewell  College  for  many  years,  he  was  faithful  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties,  unassuming  and  practical  in 
counsel  and  liberal  with  fortune  in  promoting  the  pros- 
perity of  that  institution.  "Wornall  Hall"  on  the  col- 
lege campus  memorializes  the  work  and  worth  of  this 
eminent  citizen  and  fervent  christian.  His  death,  at 
about  the  age  of  seventy  years,  was  a  sorrow  to  Mis- 
souri Baptists. 

E.  W.  Stephens  was  re-elected  recording  secretary. 

The  treasurer,Geo. W.Trimble,  by  his  report  shows 
that  the  amount  of  money  available  for  state  missions 
for  the  year  then  ending,  was  $12,329.10.  This  sum  in- 
cludes the  balance  left  over  from  the  preceding  year, 
and  the  sums  of  money  expended  by  cooperating  district 
associations.  Although  the  report  of  the  executive 
board  shows  the  labors  of  only  eight  missionaries,  there 
is  a  report  of  527  baptisms.  The  report  says  in  a  gen- 
eral way :  "The  whole  number  of  accessions  to  the 
churches  reported  by  our  evangelists  and  local  mission- 
aries is  over  1,000." 

Rev.  Joshua  Hickman  was  now  corresponding  sec- 
retary. He  labored  under  peculiar  disadvantages ;  and 
his  work  was  as  rich  in  results  as  could  have  been  rea- 
sonably expected.  The  annual  report  of  the  board,  pre- 
sented by  its  president,  Hon.  Jas.  L.  Stephens,  presented 
the  difficulties  and  embarrassments  of  the  work  in  clear 
and  satisfactory  terms. 

The  meeting  at  Macon  in  1873  showed  a  decline  in 
financial  results.  The  collection  for  state  missions 
amounted  to  $4,314.30.  Eight  missionaries  were  sus- 
tained through  the  year;  these  report  419  baptisms: 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  i  5 

365  of  which  are  reported  by  missionary  A.  F.  Ran- 
dall. 

Brother  Hickman  had  resigned  the  corresponding 
secretaryship  the  January  preceding  the  Macon  meet- 
ing, having  served  only  two  months  and  a  half  of  the 
current  year.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  B.  T.  Taylor, 
who  served  to  the  end  of  the  associational  year. 

The  meeting  at  Macon  resolved  that  for  the  next 
year,  the  executive  board  should  be  located  at  St.  Louis. 
This  Avas  at  the  motion  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Warder,  now  of 
Kentucky.  Subsequent  results  did  not  meet  expecta- 
tions nor  vindicate  the  act  of  removal.  The  board  at 
St.  Louis  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Hon.  Nathan 
Cole,  chairman;  Rev.  D.  T.  Morrill,  secretary;  Wm. 
]\L  Senter,  treasurer,  and  Rev.  S.  W.  Marston,  superin- 
tendent of  missions — a  term  substituted  for  correspond- 
ing secretary. 

In  August,  1873,  on  the  eleventh  day  of  the  month, 
one  of  Missouri's  greatest  Baptist  preachers  bid  a  final 
adieu  to  family  and  friends,  and  closed  his  labors  for  an 
eternity  of  refreshments.  Noah  Flood  was  one  of 
nature's  rare  works,  one  of  God's  blessed  gifts  of  a  man 
to  men.  He  was  Websterian  in  mental  frame  and 
power  of  thought,  Jacksonian  in  wdll,  Lincolnian  in  gen- 
erosity of  heart,  with  the  candor  and  unevasiveness  of  a 
Cleveland.  But  above  all,  he  was  Christly  in  spirit. 
He  was  unpretentious  in  manner  and  socially  jovial,  yet 
an  exemplar  of  moral  uprightness  and  christian  integ- 
rity. 

This  man,  though  now  dead  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
is  as  frequently  mentioned  by  the  living  as  are  many 
living  men.  In  the  Baptist  homes  of  Central  Missouri 
his  name  is  a  household  word.  His  sermons,  his  bap- 
tisms, his  conversation,  his  genial  wit  and  withering 
sarcasms  are  remembered  by  hundreds  who  love  to 
quote  his  sayings  and  honor  his  memory. 


154  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

He  was  present,  though  a  young  man,  at  the  meet- 
ing at  Providence  church,  in  Callaway  county,  where  a 
Vardeman,  and  a  Suggett,  and  a  Thomas,  and  a  Wilhite 
and  a  Fristoe  and  a  Longan  and  a  McOuie,  solemnly 
and  prayerfully  begun  the  construction  of  the  Missouri 
Baptist  General  Association.  After  a  short  stay  in 
Missouri,  he  attended  Shurtliff  College  at  Alton.  Illi- 
nois, from  there  he  returned  to  Kentucky,  his  native 
state,  and  in  1838  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry. 
In  1839  he  returned  to  Missouri  and  made  his  home  in 
Callaway  county.  Here,  with  scarcely  any  ministerial 
cooperation,  he  stood  firmly  and  intelligently  for  the 
missionary  spirit  and  intent  of  the  gospel.  He  had  a 
battle  to  fight ;  though  but  thirty  years  of  age  he  proved 
himself  more  than  the  equal  of  the  noted  and  influental 
champions  of  the  anti-missionary  Baptists — Theoderick 
Boulware  and  T.  Peyton  Stephens.  These  leaders 
often  warned  the  people  against  the  young  defender  of 
the  faith,  and  closed  their  meeting  houses  against  him. 
The  only  church  house  open  to  him  was  that  of  Provi- 
dence church,  where  he  had  sat  Avith  the  fathers  at  the 
preliminary  meeting  for  a  state  organization.  He  was 
often  discouraged  and  tempted  to  leave  so  unpromising 
a  field,  but  his  sense  of  duty  and  faith  in  the  promises 
of  the  gospel,  strengthened  him,  and  he  resolved  to  fight 
the  good  fight  of  faith  at  all  hazards.  He  was  now 
denounced  from  the  pulpit  of  the  anti-mission  Bap- 
tists as  a  "hireling;"  a  "money  hunter"  and  other  like 
epithets.  But  this  opposition  seemed  to  strengthen  his 
purpose.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Callaway  county 
until  1852.  During  his  labors  in  that  county,  Rich- 
land, Grand  Prairie,  Unity,  Union  Hill,  Mt.  Horeb  and 
Dry  Fork  churches  came  into  existence  as  the  fruits  of 
his  labors.  He  served,  as  pastor,  the  Richland  church 
for  many  years.  This  church  became,  and  still  is,  strong 
and  influential.  Indeed  it  may  be  said  of  Noah  Flood 
that,  to  him  the  Baptist  cause  in  Callaway  county  owes 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  155 

its  present  strength  and  prosperity.  Callaway  is 
fortunate  in  having  as  a  successor  to  their  beloved 
Flood,  such  an  able  preacher  and  devoted  laborer  as  Dr. 
W.  H.  Burnham. 

Noah  Flood  was  among  tlie  early  staunch  support- 
ers of  the  General  Association.  He  was  its  first  gen- 
eral agent,  and  did  effective  work  in  removing  preju- 
dice and  promoting  cooperation  on  the  part  of  the 
churches.  At  the  meeting  at  Lexington  in  i867,  he  w^as 
characteristically  candid  and  outspoken  concerning  the 
action  of  the  "Convention"  party  and  dealt  some  heavy 
blows,  but  the  reproofs  and  rebukes  administered  by 
him  as  a  friend  and  brother  had  a  salutary  effect,  and 
were  largely  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  recon- 
ciliation and  harmony  that  have  prevailed  unto  this  day. 

For  two  consecutive  terms  Bro.  Flood  presided 
over  the  deliberations  of  the  General  Association  as 
moderator.  As  a  presiding  ofificer  he  was  dignified, 
courteous  and  impartial.  His  rulings  were  suggested 
by  a  quick  logical  perception  of  the  issues  involved,  and 
were  decided  in  the  practical  and  common  sense  way 
that  suggest  the  nearest  and  safest  route  to  a  just  con- 
clusion. After  his  second  term  as  moderator,  which 
was  in  St.  Louis  in  i87o.  his  health  began  to  decline, 
and  he  w-as  seen  at  the  General  Association  for  onlv  two 
succeeding  meetings  of  that  body  of  Baptists  witii 
which  he  had  been  so  long  connected,  and  whicli  loved 
and  honored  him. 

The  next  meeting — 1874 — at  Sedalia,  L.  B.  Ely  was 
elected  moderator,  and  for  the  next  two  succeeding 
years,  E.  W.  Stephens  was  again  made  recording  sec- 
retar}-. 

During  the  year  the  board  had  employed  nineteen 
missionaries,  who  reported  605  baptisms.  The  amount 
of  money  collected  for  state  missions  w^as  $3,614.79. 
The  amount  paid  out  by  the  General  Association  was 
$3,820.00.  There  is,  for  some  reason,  no  printed  treas- 


156  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

urer's  report  at  this  meeting,  yet  the  superintendent's 
report  indicates  that  the  treasury  was  overdrawn 
$215.20. 

At  the  meeting  at  St.  Joseph,  1875,  there  are  re- 
ported : 

Collection  at  annual  meeting $    695  13 

Sale  of  city  lot  (Mrs.  Lay) 362  56 

Interest  on  bank  stock  (Neil) 140  00 

Collection  by  Supt.  State  Missions 3,7 18  82 

Borrowed  money 1,000  00 

Amounting  to  total .$5,916  51 

Amount  paid  out  by  treasurer $6,291   19 

Overdraft  on  treasurer $375  47 

The  above  account  includes  the  fiscal  year  begin- 
ning October  i,  1874,  and  ending  October  i,  1875. 
(See  Minutes  18/3.) 

An  analysis  of  the  expenditures  for  the  year  above 
indicated  will  serve  as  an  explanation  of  some  facts  that 
will  appear  in  the  next  chapter : 

1st.  Moneys  not  collected  on  the  field  , 

Sale  of  city  lot  (Mrs.  Lay's  gift) $    362  56 

Interest  on  bank  stock 140  00 

Borrowed  money 1,000  00 

$1,502  56 

This   taken   from   total   receipts,  leaves,  from  the 

field  $4,413  95- 

2d.  Itemization  of  sums  paid  out 

Paid  superintendent  of  missions $3,4'^'''  24 

for  printing  minutes  (1873) 345  26 

postage  on    same 36  00 

express  and  stationery 2  00 

E.  W.  Stephens  (railroad) 6  00 

E.  W.  Stephens,  services 40  00 

Binding    minutes i   5^ 

discount  on   note 5°  00 


Emerging  From  Darkness.  i57 

printing   annual 200  00 

copying  letter  book 2  25 

stationery  and  printing 19  25 

receipt   book i  75 

postage  on   annuals 102  58 

printing   autograph  letters 14  00 

filling  certificates 30  00 

on    note 615  18 

on  registered   letter 15 

postage  on   circulars 11  77 

postage  stamps 1 1  65 

For  superintendent  and  incidentals $4>966  56 

This  sum  taken  from  total  receipts,  left: 

For    missionaries $    959  95 

Add  overdraft  on  treasury 375  47 

We  have  paid  to  missionaries $1,335  42 

This  left  the  Association  in  debt  to  the  treasurer 
(Wm.  M.  Senter)  and  the  balance  on  borrowed  money, 
and   six  missionaries   and   unpaid   printing  bill  in  the 

sum  of $1,420  72 

Add  to  this,  total  expense  account  paid 6,291  09 

We  have  expense  of  the  year $7,7 1 1  81 

Of  this  sum  the  collections  by  the  superintendent 
of  state  missions  fell  short  in  the  sum  of  $3,992.99. 

3d.  The  collections  by  the  superintendent  of  state 

missions  $3'7i8  28 

Paid  to  superintendent 3477  24 

Excess  of  superintendent's  collections  over  his 

salary  and  expenses $    241  58 

4th.  In  other  words  the  General  Association  paid 
out  $3,235.66  for  $241.58  and  the  services  of  the  super- 
intendent. Putting  him  down  as  a  good  missionary, 
he  received  for  this  service,  against  the  twenty-four 
missionaries  who  were  paid  at  that  session  $966.56,  an 


158  Emerging  From  Darkness. 

excess  over  all,  to  the  amount  of  $2,269.10;  and  there 
were  left  unpaid  five  missionaries  to  whom  there  was 
left  an  indebtedness  of  $301. 

5th.  The  incidental  expenses  of  the  year,  printing, 
etc.,  not  including  sums  paid  on  borrowed  money  nor 
traveling  expenses  of  superintendent  of  missions  (cor- 
responding secretary)  which  last  item  was  included  in 
the  sum  paid  him,  amounted  to  $824.19,  which  is  only 
$142.37  less  than  the  whole  amount  paid  to  the  mission- 
aries. 

The  object  of  the  foregoing  analysis  is  not  for  the 
purpose  of  criticising  in  a  censorious  way  the  work  of 
the  board  or  of  the  superintendent  of  missions,  but  for 
the  purpose  as  before  stated  to  prepare  the  way  for  the 
next  chapter.  A  corresponding  secretary  should  re- 
ceive a  good  salary.  For  his  work  is  constant  and  un- 
usually laborious  in  the  office  and  in  the  field.  The 
functions  of  his  office  impose  upon  him  a  great  respon- 
sibility and  if  he  be  spiritually  interested  in  his  work, 
his  services  as  a  preacher  can  not  in  effectiveness  be 
less  than  that  of  a  missionary,  for  he  is  all  the  while 
developing  the  spirit  of  missions  in  the  churches. 
Without  his  labors  the  missionaries  could  not  be  sus- 
tained. 

The  analysis  is  important  in  another  respect.  It 
shows,  when  taken  in  connection  with  the  action  of  the 
General  Association,  how  little  careful  attention  may  be 
given  to  actual  conditions.  Three  excellent  and  able 
brethren,  H.  Talbird,  N.  J.  Smith  and  A.  N.  Bird, 
composing  the  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  re- 
port of  the  executive  board,  submitted,  with  other  mat- 
ter, the  following : 

"That  the  increased  contribution  to  our  missionary 
fund,  and  the  work  accomplished  during  the  year,  are, 
under  the  peculiar  circumstances  financially,  very  en- 
couraging. 


Emerging  from  Darkness.  159 

"That  the  work  accompHshed  for  the  cause,  by  the 
superintendent  of  state  missions,  promises  constantly 
increasing  HberaHty  on  the  part  of  the  churches,  and 
more  permanently  successful  evangelistic  work." 

Some  curious  reader  may  be  tempted  to  ask: 
Why  did  not  the  author  of  this  book  present  his  analysis 
of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  year  to  the  open  session  of 
the  General  Association  at  St.  Joseph  ?  To  this  question 
there  are  two  answers :  first,  he  was  not  on  the  com- 
mittee to  report  on  report  of  executive  board,  and  there 
was  not  time  for  such  detailed  work.  Second :  The 
chapter  in  this  book,  on  Education  will  indicate  that  his 
hands  w^ere  thoroughly  full  of  other  w^ork. 

The  labors  of  the  missionaries  this  year  resulted  in 
reported  baptisms  576. 

It  was  at  this  meeting  that  Dr.  J  .C.  Maple  pre- 
sented the  gavel  mentioned  in  the  first  chapter  of  this 
book. 

This  chapter  of  changing  light  and  shade  has  en- 
deavored to  present  a  brief  resume  of  a  trying  period  in 
the  history  of  the  General  Association.  The  visita- 
tions of  Providence  removed  some  of  the  staunch  sup- 
porters and  honored  members  of  the  organization. 
Though  as  many,  at  least,  as  two  of  the  meetings  em- 
braced in  the  decade  covered  by  this  chapter  were  es- 
pecially interesting  and  encouraging  as  signifying  an 
emergence  from  the  darkness  into  which  a  rare  and 
fearful  war  had  cast  the  Lord's  Zion  in  Missouri,  there 
came  clouds  to  remind  the  faithful  that  the  subjects  of 
the  Kingdom  of  the  Captain  of  Salvation  must  not  ex- 
pect uninterrupted  ease  beneath  the  frowning  ramparts 
of  Satan,  and  in  a  land  where  sin  reigns  to  disturb  the 
peace  for  which  they  fight;  but  that  they  must  endure 
hardness  as  good  soldiers,  and  persistently  fight  the 
good  fight  of  faith. 


CHAPTER  X. 


A  CRISIS. 


Notwithstanding  the  pleasing  prophecy  of  the 
Angehc  announcement  of  the  advent  at  Bethlehem  of 
Jndea:  "Peace  on  earth  and  good  will  among  men," 
the  history  of  the  founding  and  progress  of  the  gospel 
dispensation  indicates  most  clearly  that  the  church 
must  wait  an  indefinite  time  for  the  complete  fulfill- 
ment. Jesus  and  his  first  disciples  and  the  apostles 
learned  by  sad  experience,  in  which  they  were  sus- 
tained by  a  heroic  faith  that,  the  blessings  of  peace  and 
good  will  were  not  forthwith  consummations.  Even 
with  the  professed  followers  of  the  Prince  of  peace,  all 
has  not  been  undisturbed  amity.  The  people  of  God 
must  let  Patience  do  her  perfect  work  until  that  great 
consummating  day  when  the  crucified  and  risen  one 
shall  come  in  the  glory  of  the  Father  and  His  holy  an- 
gels, and  the  angel  of  righteousness  shall  spread  her 
wings  over  the  whole  earth  even  as  the  waters  cover  the 
great  deeps. 

The  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Hanni- 
bal in  i876,  while  harmonious  and  undisturbed  by  any 
frictions  or  conflicts,  evidenced  a  sense  of  disappoint- 
ment with  the  work  of  the  preceding  year.  The  "su- 
perintendent of  missions,"  Dr.  S.  W.  Marston,  had  re- 
signed his  office  the  preceding  June.  Rev.  J.  D.  Mur- 
phy was  elected  by  the  executive  board  to  the  office  of 
corresponding  secretary  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  Dr.  Marston's  resignation.  The  corresponding 
secretary  reports  the  work  of  four  missionaries  and 
512  baptisms.  (These  missionaries  were  certainly 
blessed  in  their  work.) 

160 


A  Crisis.  i6i 

The  treasurer's  report  shows  collections  from  all 
sources,  $3,377.43;  $429.50  of  which  was  contributed 
at  Hannibal  during  the  session  of  the  Association ;  $To 
was  from  interest  on  the  "Neal  Fund"  and  $90.40  from 
advertising  in  the  minutes  of  the  preceding  year. 
The  disbursements  amounted  to  $2,813.9?. 

Paid  on  S.  W.  Marston's  (Supt.)  salary $1,419  13 

for  his  traveling  expenses 126  75 

printing  annuals 378  47 

engraving 15  10 

postage 131  00 

envelopes 5  00 

cash  on  borrowed  money 416  61 

freight,  express  and  telegrams 7  50 

400  autograph  letters 7  50 

$2,517  06 

Paid  to  missionaries 266  91 

J.  D.  Murphy  (cor.  sec.) 30  00 

$2,813  97 
Balance   in  treasury $563  50 

Against  this  balance  stood  the  following  liabilities  : 

On  S.  W.  Marston's  salary $166  95 

J.  D.  :\Iurphy's  salary 75  00 

T.  W.  Barrett's,  missionary 4T   50 

$283  45 
The  financial  condition  of  the  General  Association 
had  quite  perplexed  and  embarrassed  the  board;  hence 
Dr.  Marston's  resignation.  The  board  reported, 
through  Dr.  ]\Iurphy,  the  corresponding  secretary,  as 
follows : 

"The  first  of  June  last,  Bro.  S.  W.  Marston  re- 
signed our  work  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  since 
our  meeting  at  Macon  City.  A  majority  of  the  board 
believed  that  the  most  prudent  thing  to  be  done  was  to 
dispense  with  an  agent  in  the  field,  on  a  salary  and  trav- 
II 


1 63  A  Crisis. 

eling  expenses,  and  to  conduct  the  work  through  the 
mails  and  the  papers  until  the  present  meeting.  J.  D. 
Murphy,  of  Mexico,  was  appointed  to  this  work." 

He  further  says : 

"The  embarrassments  arising  from  the  new 
method  of  conducting  the  work,  and  the  limited  time  to 
do  it  in,  gave  but  small  room  for  decided  success,  to 
say  nothing  about  the  midsummer  season,  when  collec- 
tions for  benevolent  work  are  meager." 

It  is  no  more  than  an  honor  due  to  Dr.  Murphy  to 
say  that,  considering  the  immense  burden  thrown  upon 
him  when  he  was  induced  to  take  the  corresponding  sec- 
retaryship, his  work  and  its  results  were  fully  equal  to 
the  possibilities.  But  for  his  devotion  to  the  interests 
of  the  General  Association  and  his  judicious  manage- 
ment of  the  work  of  his  office,  the  showing  would  have 
been  even  more  discouraging. 

When  the  General  Association  met  at  Lexington  in 
i877,  it  was  evident  to  the  minds  of  many  brethren  that 
the  chief  work  for  which  the  Association  was  organ- 
ized, w^as  seriously  retarded  if  not  imperiled.  The  re- 
port of  the  board  shows  the  employment  for  the  preced- 
ing year  of  twelve  missionaries,  including  those  of  four 
district  associations  aided  by  the  General  Association; 
these  report  416  baptisms  for  the  year. 

The  report  of  the  treasurer,  Wm.  Senter,  shows : 

Collections  by  corresponding  secretary $i>945  35 

Collections  by  St.  Louis  Association 2,425  00 

Collections  by  other  associations 826  42 

Total  collections $5,196  77 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  treasurers  report  that  the 
St.  Louis  Association,  and  "other  associations"  appro- 
priated their  collections  to  their  own  fields,  and  that  the 
amounts  never  came  into  the  hands  of  the  treasurer  of 
the  General  Association.     Of  the  $1,945.35  coming  into 


A  Crisis.  163 

his  hands,  $1,180.95  ^^'^^  P^^'^  to  ^^'^^  corresponding  sec- 
retary, the  lemainder  was  paid  to  missionaries. 

Rev.  Joshua  Hickman,  who  was  corresponding  sec- 
retary at  this  time,  in  his  able  report  to  the  General  As- 
sociation, for  the  board  says  : 

"When  your  board  commenced  the  work  of  the 
associational  year  that  closes  with  this  meeting  of  the 
General  Association,  it  encountered  the  following  for- 
midable obstacles:  i.  The  work  of  state  missions  for 
the  preceding  year  had  not  been  vigorously  prosecuted, 
and  as  a  consequence,  there  was  some  abatement  of  in- 
terest, and  a  manifest  need  of  a  revival  in  this  partic- 
ular direction.  2.  Many  of  the  missionaries  who  had 
been  in  the  employment  of  former  boards,  and  those 
too,  who  because  of  their  experience  and  missionary 
zeal,  were  the  men  whom  your  board  would  have  been 
pleased  to  have  employed,  were  more  or  less  discour- 
aged and  dissatisfied  because  of  the  nonpayment  for 
services  rendered  by  them.  3.  The  general  financial 
embarrassment  of  the  whole  country  has  seriously  in- 
terfered with  the  beneficence  of  the  churches  and  breth- 
ren. Your  corresponding  secretary  has  met  with  the 
force  of  the  foregoing  facts  wherever  he  has  gone,  and 
he  has  directed  his  efforts  to  a  revival  of  the  mission 
spirit  and  to  a  restoration  of  confidence,  as  much  as  to 
direct  efforts  to  raise  money." 

The  next  meeting  of  the  General  Association,  held 
at  Mexico,  soon  developed  that  the  dissatisfaction  with 
the  work  of  the  Association  had  become  intensified  and 
more  wide-spread.  Already  there  were  intimations  of 
organized  opposition.  This  state  of  things  was  es- 
pecially discomforting  to  the  minds  of  conservative  and 
conscientious  members  of  the  body.  The  correspond- 
ing secretary,  because  of  sickness,  was  not  present  at 
the  meeting.  The  moderator  of  the  Association,  who 
was  also  president  of  the  executive  board,was  requested 
by  the  Association  to  prepare  and  submit  to  the  Associ- 


164  A  Crisis. 

ation  a  report  of  the  work  of  the  board  for  the  preced- 
ing year. 

The  circumstances  of  the  occasion  and  the  subse- 
quent action  of  the  General  Association  suggests  the 
propriety  of  giving  the  report  in  ahnost  its  entirety  : 

"The  missionary  work  of  the  executive  board  for 
the  year  ending  October  22,  i878,  has  not  been  on  as 
large  scale  or  as  fruitful  of  results  as  was  desired  and 
expected  at  the  beginning  of  the  associational  year. 
The  comparative  failure  of  the  work  for  the  last  year  is 
as  deeply  regretted  by  the  board  as  it  possibly  can  be  by 
any  other  of  the  friends  of  missions. 

"The  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of  a  more  prosper- 
ous work  has  been  the  lack  of  liberality  on  the  part  of 
the  churches  in  contributing  to  the  treasury  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  The  corresponding  secretary,  Rev.  J. 
Hickman,  who  was  reappointed  by  the  board,  immedi- 
ately after  the  last  session  of  your  body,  has  been  dili- 
gent in  prosecuting  the  work  pertaining  to  his  office, 
and  can  not  be  charged  with  the  responsibility  for  the 
meagerness  of  work  done  in  the  field ;  nor  for  the  fail- 
ure of  the  churches  to  contribute  more  liberally.  It  is 
impossible  for  the  board  to  do  more  work  than  the 
churches  enable  it  to  do.  It  is  not  the  province  nor  the 
duty  of  the  executive  board  to  devise  ways  and  means 
but  to  faithfully  execute  the  plans  and  work  prescribed 
by  the  General  Association.  The  correctness  of  this 
proposition  will  be  seen  when  it  is  reflected  that  if  the 
executive  board  is  to  originate  plans  and  devise  ways 
and  means,  then  there  is  nothing  left  for  the  General 
Association  to  do  but  to  appoint  the  board  and  hear  its 
annual  reports.  The  work  of  the  board  is  to  look  out 
destitute  fields,  engage  missionaries  to  do  the  work  re- 
quired by  the  conditions  of  such  fields,  receive  and  dis- 
burse the  contributions  of  the  churches  according  to 
appropriations.  The  active  officer  of  the  board  is  the 
corresponding  secretary,  upon  whose  information  the 


/]  Crisis.  165 

board  is  dependent  for  those  facts  of  fields,  finances, 
and  men  necessary  to  its  intelligent  and  effective  opera- 
tions. It  is  impossible  for  the  executive  board  to  put 
itself  in  relation  to  the  churches  and  individual  mem- 
bers except  through  the  corresponding  secretary.  We 
submit  these  thoughts  because  of  the  consciousness  of 
the  board  that  there  is  a  limited  disposition  to  charge  it 
with  the  responsibility  for  the  meagerness  of  the  work 
done.  And  it  may  be  useful  to  the  cause  of  missions  in 
the  future  to  present  for  the  consideration  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  some  of  the  manifest  hindrances  to  a 
more  prosperous  work : 

"First.  The  number  of  churches  in  the  state  in 
active  and  cooperative  sympathy  with  the  General  As- 
sociation is  comparatively  small.  There  are  in  the 
state,  in  round  numbers,  1,200  Baptist  churches.  Yet, 
at  the  last  session  of  this  body  (i877)  there  were  only 
forty-six  churches  represented  by  messengers — less 
than  one  twenty-fourth  of  the  whole  number.  The  re- 
ports of  last  year  show  that  only  sixty-seven  churches 
made  contributions  directly  to  the  work  of  the  General 
Association.  The  other  contributors  were  individu- 
als,district  associations  and  societies  for  christian  work. 
And  it  is  further  noticeable  that  these  contributing 
individuals,  associations  and  societies  are  mainly  repre- 
sentative of  the  sixty-seven  contributing  churches.  The 
reports  for  this  year  will  not  show  a  materially  different 
state  of  facts  as  to  the  sources  of  missionary  revenue. 
How  the  collections  for  this  year  will  compare  with 
those  of  last  year  can  not  be  definitely  exhibited  until 
the  report  of  the  finance  committee  shall  have  been 
made,  as  quite  a  number  of  the  churches  send  up  their 
annual  contributions  by  the  hands  of  their  messengers 
to  the  Association. 

"Second.  There  are  some  churches  that  contribute 
to  the  General  xA-SSOciation,  while  tlie  district  associa- 


1 66  A  Crisis. 

tions  to  which  they  belong  do  not  make  contributions, 
as  such,  to  your  wori^. 

"To  the  foregoing  hindrances  must  be  added,  the 
continued  and  increased  straitness  of  the  general  finan- 
cial condition  of  the  country. 

"The  contributions  for  the  present  year  are  meager. 
The  amount  collected  by  the  corresponding  secretary 
on  the  field  is  $936.25.  To  which  we  add  $500,  the  in- 
terest accrued  from  the  Butler  fund,  and  the  amount 
paid  to  the  financial  committee  during  the  session : 
$574.95,  and  we  have  as  a  total  the  sum  of  $2,011.20. 

"If  we  put  the  white  membership  of  our  churches  at 
75,000,  we  find  that  a  very  small  proportion  give  to  the 
Lord  for  state  missions,  and  that  the  average  per  capita 
contribution  is  about  2  2-3  cents. 

"These  facts  and  figures  indicate  that  a  reform  and 
advance  movement  in  the  work  of  state  missions  are  the 
imperative  demand  of  the  present;  and  to  this  demand 
the  General  Association  should  give  its  present  and 
earnest  attention,  for  it  is  the  Baptist  organization  for 
state  mission  work  in  Missouri. 

"Your  board  realizing  the  humiliating  failure  of  the 
pa.st,  and  sensible  of  the  embarrassments  of  the  present, 
yet  hopeful  of  the  future,  v»^ould  venture  to  suggest  to 
the  General  Association  some  matured  thoughts  upon 
the  situation :  First.  It  is  folly  for  you  to  expect  a  har- 
vest from  fields  when  you  have  not  strewn.  Missouri 
Baptist  churches,  with  a  few  exceptions,  are  a  vast  un- 
cultivated field.  The  seeds  of  truth  that  produce  fruits 
to  your  treasury  have  never  been  planted  in  any  consid- 
erable part  of  the  immense  field.  Less  than  100 
churches  out  of  1,200  cooperate  with  you  in  the  work  of 
state  missions.  These  one  hundred  churches  might  do 
more,  and  need  further  cultivation.  All  the  others 
need  a  primary  plowing  and  liberal  sowing,  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  generous  cultivation.  A  few,  occasional  ap- 
peals  for  money  are  by  no  means   the   needed  work. 


A  Crisis.  \6'j 

There  needs  to  be  an  education  in  the  great  doctrines 
of  the  church  and  its  relation  to  the  redemptive  work 
of  Christ,  from  which  men  and  women  professing  God- 
Hness  are  to  learn  the  mission  of  the  churches  to  the 
world,  and  their  responsibility  for  the  moral  condition 
of  mankind.  Giving  grudgingly  as  of  necessity,  or  im- 
pulsively under  the  effect  of  momentary  incentives 
fails  to  inform  and  develop  the  churches,  and  the  indi- 
vidual membership  into  harmony  with  the  nature  and 
mission  of  the  church  of  Christ.  A  deeper  and  more 
comprehensive  work  must  be  done,  and  the  General  As- 
sociation is  the  organization  to  do  it,  and  thus  fulfill  its 
object — the  spread  of  divine  Truth  in  the  state. 

"With  the  foregoing  considerations  in  view,  it  oc- 
curs to  your  board  that  some  plan  should  be  promptly 
adopted  by  which  the  General  Association  may  do  a 
more  permanent  and  effective  work  than  it  has  hitherto 
done;  and  that  suitable  agencies  for  a  solid  work  be 
provided  at  this  meeting.  It  is  not  practical  to  send 
out  reapers  into  fields  where  no  sowing  has  been  done, 
neither  is  it  wise  to  confine  sowing  and  reaping  to  the 
same  parts  of  a  vast  field. 

"People  not  in  sympathy  with  the  aggressive  and 
progressive  spirit  of  Christianity  can  not  be  looked  to 
for  liberal  and  hearty  cooperation  with  missionary  or- 
ganizations. First  sow  and  then  reap  is  a  law  that  can 
not  be  safely  ignored.  Shall  this  sowing  be  done?  If 
so,  how  shall  it  be  done  ?  These  are  questions  to  which 
the  board  invites  candid  and  prayerful  attention.  *  *  * 

"A  work  that  would  enlarge  the  mission  spirit  of 
the  churches,  would  at  the  same  time  improve  the  spir- 
itual life  of  the  membership.  *  *  * 

"Harmonious  action  in  the  great  work  of  this  body 
is  essential  to  its  greatest  success,  and  the  honor  of  the 
Head  of  the  church.  It  is  natural  that  individuality  of 
being  should  show  itself  in  individuality  of  opinion. 
But  in  a  bodv  like  that  of  the  General  Association  the 


1 68  A  Crisis. 

opinion  of  tlie  majority  must  be  the  mind  of  all,  else 
there  is  no  need  of  such  organizations,  and  they  become 
an  evil  rather  than  a  blessing.  The  minority  can  co- 
operate with  the  majority  without  a  surrender  of  con- 
science; otherwise  there  could  be  no  such  thing  as  the 
harmonious  cooperation  of  a  community  of  individuals. 
Your  board  urges  unity  of  spirit,  union  of  plans  and 
unity  of  work. 

"Abstract  of  Rev.  J.  Hickman's  report  of  work  as 
corresponding  secretary  for  the  year  ending  October, 
1 878  shows :  Amount  of  money  collected  on  field, 
$936.25;  expense  of  travel,  $179;  sermons  preached, 
256;  miles  traveled,  9,463;  letters  written,  463;  conver- 
sions under  his  ministry,  73. 

"The  partial  reports  from  missionaries  show  that 
all  under  the  employment  of  the  board  had  been  duly 
engaged  in  the  work,  and  that  the  Lord  has  blessed 
the  preaching  done  by  them. 

"All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted  by  order  of 
the  board. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman,  Prest.  Bd." 

« 

The  reader  will  readily  see  that  much  of  the  fore- 
going report  was  suggested  by  conditions  then  con- 
fronting the  General  Association.  The  symptoms  of 
disintegrating  influences  were  manifest.  The  report 
seeks  to  meet  these  indications  by  a  conciliatory  argu- 
ment. 

The  treasurer's  report  for  the  year  throws  further 
light  upon  the  prevalent  condition;  and  though  the 
treasurer  was  not  present  at  the  meeting,  and  was  not 
in  conference  with  the  board  when  the  above  report  was 
written,  he  wisely  and  affectionately  admonishes  har- 
mony; his  report  is  as  follows : 
"Rev.  W.  Pope  Yeaman,  D.  D.,  Chairman  Executive 

Board,  General  Association,  Missouri. 

"My  dear  brother : — Permit  me  through  you  to 
submit  my  report  as  treasurer  to  the  General  Associa- 


A  Crisis.  169 

lion.  Not  having  heard  for  sonic  months  from  our 
corresponding  secretary,  I  am  unable  to  make  my  re- 
port as  full  as  it  should  be,  but  I  can  only  give  what 
conies  through  my  hands,  and  leave  Bro.  Hickman's 
report  to  be  added  to  it.  I  also  inclose  my  vouchers, 
which  I  hope  you  will  find  correct.  T  should  be  very 
glad  if  it  were  so  I  could  meet  with  the  board  at  Mex- 
ico, but  my  business  at  this  season  of  the  year  confines 
me  ver}-  closely  at  home.  I  pray  God  that  He  give  the 
Association  wisdom  to  devise  ways  and  means  for 
carrying  forward  the  great  w'ork  of  home  (state)  mis- 
sions, more  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned,  and 
more  to  the  glory  of  God  in  the  upbuilding  of  His  cause 
in  the  destitute  places  of  our  own  state.  I  feel  that  we 
have  done  but  little  this  year,  not  enough  to  commend 
our  plan  of  work  to  the  brethren.  I  think  the  most  im- 
portant step  to  be  taken  is  to  harmonize  all  on  some 
plan  that  all  may  speak  well  of  w^hat  is  done,  though  it 
be  but  little.  Hoping  to  hear  a  good  report  from  you 
soon,  I  am  Yours  truly, 

W.  M.  Senter." 

The  above  communication  was  read  to  the  Associa- 
tion in  full,  by  the  chairman  of  the  executive  board, 
and  the  influence  of  its  good  advice  and  gentle  spirit 
was  at  once  manifest. 

Prior  to  this  meeting  of  the  General  Association, 
the  executive  board,  then  located  in  St.  Louis,  had  in- 
formation that  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  would  be 
asked  to  protest  against  the  policy  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation and  to  declare  non-cooperation  w'ith  it.  This 
information  came  to  tlie  board  only  a  day  or  two  before 
the  meeting  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  with  the 
Walnut  Grove  church,  in  Boone  county.  (The  Mt. 
Zion  Association  had  not  then  been  organized.) 

Upon  receiving  the  information  the  board  of  the 
General  Association  was  called  together  in  special  ses- 


170  A  Crisis. 

sion,  and  after  discussion  of  the  information  laid  before 
them,  the  president  of  the  board,  then  resident  in  St. 
Louis,  was  requested  to  visit  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Associa- 
tion at  its  approaching  session,  and  endeavor  by  expla- 
nations and  other  fraternal  means,  to  induce  the  Asso- 
ciation to  withhold  its  protest  and  declaration  of  non- 
cooperation.  The  Mt.  Pleasant  Association  is  an  old  and 
influential  body  of  Baptists,  and  the  board  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  realized  that  adverse  action  by  it,  un- 
der all  the  circumstances,  would  be  a  great  detriment  to 
the  work  of  state  missions. 

The  president  of  the  executive  board  made  a  hur- 
ried journey  to  Walnut  Grove  church  to  meet  the  As- 
sociation. He  had  not  been  upon  the  grounds  many 
minutes  before  he  found  that  the  opposition  to  the  Gen- 
eral Association,  led  by  the  moderator.  Rev.  J.  M. 
Robinson,  a  strong  and  influential  preacher  and  pastor, 
was  intense  and  active.  The  work  committed  to  the 
representative  of  the  board  of  General  Association 
seemed  to  him  a  difficult  and  embarrassing  mission. 
He  sought  the  counsel  of  Hon.  W.  R.  Wilhite  and  his 
now  sainted  brother,  J.  S.  Wilhite,  through  whose  ad- 
vice and  effective  aid,  the  discontented  brethren  were 
induced  to  defer  action  until  after  the  next  meeting  of 
the  General  Association. 

The  opposition  to  the  work  of  the  several  preced- 
ing years  was  distinctly  asserted  at  the  meeting  at 
Mexico  in  i878.  Attention  was  called  to  the  dispro- 
portion of  expenses  for  the  years  1874,  '75,  '76  to  the 
work  done  and  amount  paid  missionaries;  and  to  the 
comparative  failure  of  the  work  of  i877  and  '78,  and 
it  was  insisted  that  unless  measures  for  reform  were 
adopted  that  the  Association  had  better  be  dissolved. 
This  opposition  was  led  at  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Association  by  Brother  Robinson.  It  is  very  clear  to 
the  student  of  the  conditions  prevailing  at  that  time  that 
the  objections  to  the  work  of  the  last   few  preceding 


A  Crisis.  171 

years  were  not  without  foundation.  A  compromise  ad- 
justment of  pending  and  growing  divergencies  was 
effected  after  the  following  manner : 

"On  motion  of  E.  H.  Sawyer,  the  report  of  the  ex- 
ecutive board  was  'referred  to  a  special  committee  of 
seven  to  consider  its  suggestions  and  report  a  plan  to 
the  body  at  the  earliest  practical  moment,  for  the  pros- 
ecution of  the  work  of  this  body.'  " 

"The  moderator  appointed  the  following  commit- 
tee: E.  H.  Sawyer,  T.  W.  Barrett,  L.  B.  Ely,  A.  W. 
Morrison,  Wm.  Ferguson,  J.  M.  Robinson  and  W.  W. 
Boyd." 

(All  of  the  members  of  the  forenamed  committee, 
except  Drs.  Sawyer  and  Boyd,  are  now  (1898)  on  the 
other  side  of  the  dividing  waters.) 

At  the  evening  session  of  the  same  day  of  the  adop- 
tion of  the  foregoing  resolution,  the  committee  submit- 
ted the  following  report : 

"Whereas,  The  missionary  work  of  the  Associa- 
tion has  not  been  as  successful  in  the  past  three  or  four 
years  as  we  had  reason  to  expect,  and,  whereas,  it  is  of 
the  first  importance  to  our  success  to  bring  into  active 
sympathy  and  cooperation,  the  entire  denomination; 
therefore, 

"Resolved,  ist,  That  a  more  aggressive  policy  be 
instituted,  and  that  by  the  help  of  God,  we  pledge  our 
best  endeavors  to  raise  at  least  $5,000  during  the  com- 
ing year,  to  be  expended  upon  the  field.  2d.  To  effect 
a  more  perfect  re-union  in  our  work,  we  deem  it  desir- 
able to  locate  the  board  at  Alexico.  3d.  We  instruct 
the  board  to  appoint  an  able  and  efficient  man  as  cor- 
responding secretary,  who  shall  have  general  supervi- 
sion of  the  mission  work  of  the  Association ;  who  shall, 
through  the  press  and  by  correspondence  with  pastors 
and  missionaries,  seek  to  develop  the  mission  spirit  of 
the  churches,  and  bring  the  entire  denomination  into 
active  cooperation  with  the  work  of  the  Association; 


172  A  Crisis. 

and  for  this  work,  he  shall  be  allowed  $25  per  month 
and  the  expense  of  correspondence  and  printing. 

"4th.  The  corresponding  secretary  shall  also 
spend  such  time  on  the  field  as  the  board  may  deem 
necessary  to  the  efficient  prosecution  of  the  mission 
work  of  the  Association;  provided  the  time  thus  de- 
voted does  not  exceed  one  half  his  whole  time,  and  for 
such  service  he  shall  receive  a  reasonable  compensation 
in  addition  to  the  $25  per  month. 

"5th.  The  salary  of  the  corresponding  secretary 
shall  be  paid  out  of  the  income  from  the  Butler  fund, 
and  such  contributions  of  individuals  and  churches  as 
may  be  designated  for  this  purpose. 

"6th.  That  the  board  appoint  as  many  efficient  mis- 
sionaries as  the  means  at  their  command  will  justify. 

"7th.  That  the  board,  as  far  as  practicable,  aid 
v/eak  and  destitute  churches  to  become  self-sustaining. 

"8th.  That  any  church  have  the  privilege  to  desig- 
nate the   missionary  of  the   General   Association,    to 
whom  its  contribution  may  be  paid. 
Respectfully  submitted 

E.  H.  Sawyer,  Chairman." 

The  evening  session,  until  a  late  hour,  was  spent  in 
a  vigorous  and  animated  pro  et  con  discussion  of  this 
report,  when,  upon  the  question  on  a  motion  to  adopt, 
the  report  was  adopted  as  the  basis  for  state  mission 
operations  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  adoption  of  this  basis,  as  will  occur  to  the 
mind  carefully  studying  it,  indicates  that  a  crisis  had 
come.  This  scheme  was  a  bridge  for  crossing  the 
chasm.  It  was  hoped  that  it  would  allay  opposition, 
unite  the  forces  and  enter  upon  the  work  with  concen- 
trated vigor.  The  denomination  was  given  to  under- 
stand that  no  field  cdllections  would  go  to  the  support 
of  the  corresponding  secretary  unless  so  designated  by 
the  contributors.  That  officer  could  not  receive  pay 
for  more  than  one  half  time  given  to  canvassing  the 


A  Crisis.  173 

churches  and  the  mission  fields.  In  entering  upon  the 
work,  the  corresponding  secretary  must  sacrifice  much 
for  harmony,  re-union  and  progress. 

After  the  adoption  of  this  report,  one  month  passed 
away  without  any  corresponding  secretary,  and  with- 
out the  doing  of  any  missionary  work.  Doubt  and 
gloom  had  settled  upon  the  hearts  of  many  of  the  most 
devoted  friends  of  state  missions.  At  the  end  of  that 
month  the  board  met  in  Mexico.  There  were  only 
seven  members  out  of  nineteen,  present.  Even  mem- 
bers of  the  board  were  not  sufficiently  encouraged  to 
give  the'  new  plan  a  trial. 

The  report  of  the  board  made  next  year,  1879,  at 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Kansas  City, 
indicates  the  action  taken  at  this  meeting  of  the  board, 
and  at  the  next  following  meeting,  one  month  later. 

This  report  of  the  board,  from  which  some  extracts 
are  made,  will  indicate  further,  the  waning  confidence 
in  the  General  Association.  The  number  of  resigna- 
tions from  membership  in  the  board,  and  disclaimer  of 
connection  with  the  General  Association  are  among 
these  indications.  The  report  of  the  board,  by  its  in- 
structions was  prepared  by  its  president,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Maple,  and  by  him  submitted  to  the  board  and  adopted 
for  presentation  by  him  to  the  General  Association. 
The  general  work  is  submitted  by  the  following  intro- 
ductory paragraphs : 

"Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General 
Association,  in  October,  i878,  your  executive  board 
met  and  organized.  Wm.  Harper  and  R.  H.  Allison 
having  resigned  their  membership  on  the  board,  Rev. 
J.  D.  Murphy  and  Deacon  John  A.  Guthrie  were  chosen 
to  fill  their  vacancies.  At  a  late  date  Rev.  W.  W.  Boyd 
having  written  to  the  board  disclaiming  membership 
with  us,  we  accepted  said  disclaimer  and  proceeded  to 
elect  Rev.  J.  C.  Armstrong,  of  St.  Louis,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  thus  created.     Rev.   W.   Pope  Yeaman  was 


174  A  Crisis. 

elected  president;  Rev.  J.  D.  Murphy,  recording  sec- 
retary, and  John  A.  Guthrie,  treasurer. 

"The  president  of  the  board  was  then  requested  to 
conduct  the  correspondence  for  one  month.  At  the 
expiration  of  this  time,  and  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in 
November,  when  the  board  again  met  it  was  ascertained 
that  a  number  of  the  churches  and  pastors  had  so  read- 
ily and  liberally  responded  to  the  appeals  of  the  presi- 
dent, that  we  had  offered  to  us  in  cash  and  what  we 
considered  reliable  pledges,  a  sufficient  amount  to  jus- 
tify us  in  employing  a  corresponding  secretary  who 
would  if  necessary,  spend  some  portion  of  his  time  in 
visiting  the  churches.  There  came  also  with  these  con- 
tributions and  pledges  a  very  general  request  that  the 
board  should  appoint  Dr.  Yeaman  to  this  work. 

"The  board  believing  that  due  consideration  should 
be  given  to  the  requests  of  those  who  had  contributed 
these  funds,  and  that  Dr.  Yeaman  would  not  only  be 
successful  in  collecting  money  for  missionary  purposes, 
but  that  he  would  by  his  earnest  and  faithful  preaching 
of  the  Gospel,  accomplish  much  good,  elected  him  to 
fill  the  office  of  corresponding  secretary. 

"The  resignation  of  Dr.  Yeaman  as  president  of 
the  board,  having  been  accepted,  J.  C.  Maple  was 
elected  to  the  office.'' 

Under  the  subhead  of  the  report  "Our  Work 
Begins,"  the  board  says :  "The  instructions  given  us  at 
the  last  session  of  the  General  Association  (see  minutes 
page  1 1 )  limited  the  time  to  be  spent  by  the  correspond- 
ing secretary  'on  the  field'  to  'one  half  his  whole  time.' 

"It  was,  therefore,  decided  that  the  incumbent  of 
this  office  should  be  required  to  give  no  more  of  his  time 
to  'field  work'  than  seemed  to  be  imperatively  demanded 
by  the  exigencies  of  the  case.  For  though  our  efforts 
might  be  fruitless  in  every  other  respect,  there  was  per- 
fect unanimitv  among:  the  members  of  the  board  in  the 


A  Crisis.  1 75 

determination  to  adhere,  with  unswerving  scrupulous- 
ness, to  our  instructions  from  the  Baptists  of  the  state. 

"We  consider  ourselves  exceedingly  fortunate,  in 
that  at  so  early  a  period  of  the  year's  work  we  had 
placed  at  our  disposal  all  the  funds  necessarv  to  pav 
the  salary  of  our  financial  agent  for  all  the  time  we 
thought  it  prudent  for  him  to  give  to  canvassing  the 
churches.  *  *  *  Not  one  dollar  of  the  amount  con- 
tributed for  missions  was  needed  to  pay  the  salarv  of 
any  officer  of  the  board,  or  to  meet  any  e:j?penses  of  the 
work." 

Notwithstanding  the  unpleasant  and  prolonged, 
but  pleasantly  terminated  controversy  at  the  Kansas 
City  meeting  over  the  question  of  seating  the  delegates 
from  the  Second  Baptist  church,  St.  Louis ;  and  the 
proposition  to  amend  the  report  from  the  committee  on 
religious  publications  by  inserting  a  recommendation  of 
the  Baptist  Battle  Flag — which  amendment  was  lost — 
the  meeting  was  pleasant  and  most  encouraging. 

The  results  attending  the  efforts  of  the  executive 
board  to  resuscitate  state  missions,  and  restore  confi- 
dence in  the  General  Association  seemed  to  serve  as  a 
special  inspiration  to  the  brotherhood.  The  annual 
report  of  the  board  was  referred  to  several  committees 
according  to  its  principal  topical  divisions.  The  com- 
mittee on  "Financial  part"  of  the  annual  report  says: 
"We  find  from  statistics  furnished  by  the  treasurer,  the 
following  interesting  facts  relating  to  the  financial  work 
of  your  board  for  the  past  year:  Received  from  all 
sources,  $2,361.03;  paid  out  for  all  purposes,  including 
salary  of  corresponding  secretary  for  office  work  and 
for  labor  on  the  field  and  for  salaries  of  missionaries, 
$1,749.35;  amount  on  hand,  $7ii.68. 

"These  figures  speak  more  forcibly  than  any  other 
language  could  of  the  wisdom  and  energy  of  your  board 
and  its  corresponding  secretary.     We  say  to  them  Svell 


176  A  Crisis. 

done  good  and  faithful  servants.'  We  congratulate 
the  board  on  its  wise  policy,  and  its  corresponding  sec- 
retary on  the  success  that  has  attended  the  seventy-five 
days'  labor  on  the  field,  a  success  which  is  well  said,  in 
the  report  of  your  board,  to  be  unprecedented."  This 
report  is  signed  by  Wm.  Ferguson  and  W.  F.  Elliott. 

The  committee  on  the  "work  of  the  board,"  con- 
sisting of  M.  J.  Breaker,  H.  C.  Wallace  and  John  B. 
Wornall,  report  as  follows :  "Your  committee  regard 
as  most  gratifying  the  work  done  by  the  executive 
board  during  the  past  year.  In  view  of  all  the  circum- 
stances we  had  no  right  to  anticipate  such  pleasant  and 
prosperous  results.  During  the  year  not  only  have  all 
debts  (except  one)  been  paid,  but  missionaries  have 
been  employed  who  have  preached  664  sermons,  and 
been  instrumental  in  i7o  conversions.  *  *  *  But  the 
nearly  $3,000  raised  and  the  many  conversions  re- 
ported, by  no  means  exhaust  the  work  of  the  board : 
though  the  corresponding  secretary  was  allowed  to 
spend  but  seventy-five  days  in  the  field,  yet  he  has  by 
sermons  and  addresses,  created  in  many  parts  of  the 
state  an  earnest  spirit  of  cooperation." 

The  records  of  the  General  Association  have  been 
thus  closely  followed,  that  the  reader  may  see  that  the 
depressed  condition  of  the  Association,  and  the  crisis 
to  which  it  was  exposed,  and  the  following  revival  of 
state  mission  work,  and  the  following  growth  of  influ- 
ence of  the  General  Association  are  not  mythical,  nor 
have  their  origin  in  the  brain  of  the  writer. 

During  the  year  of  trial,  1878-9,  the  members  of 
the  board  as  a  rule  were  not  hopeful.  They  did  not 
discourage  the  work,  but  were  without  heart  in  it.  The 
president  of  the  board  and  the  corresponding  secretary 
held  frequent  conferences.  They  corresponded  fre- 
quently. They  felt  the  weight  of  the  crisis.  The  presi- 
dent did  not  content  himself  with  an  able  discharge  of 
duty  as  a  "presiding  officer."    With  pen  and  personal 


A  Crisis.  177 

work  he  threw  his  energies  against  the  adverse  condi- 
tions with  great  effectiveness.  He  never  dechned  visit- 
ing a  church  or  an  association  when  the  corresponding 
secretary  suggested  that  his  personal  efforts  and  pres- 
ence would  meet  an  emergency.  Yet  for  all  this  he  re- 
ceived from  the  funds  of  the  Association  but  $10,  and 
this  only  after  the  board  forced  it  on  him  to  reimburse 
him  for  the  expense  of  a  single  trip.  For  other  journeys 
he  refused  to  be  reimbursed.  Not  until  another  such 
experience,  in  which  others  are  the  participants,  will  the 
anxieties,  solicitvides,  labors  and  prayers  of  two  co- 
workers be  fully  appreciated. 

Dr.  Maple,  in  a  semi-centennial  paper,  written  in 
1884,  in  referring  to  the  period  of  which  I  now  write, 
says :  "The  mission  work  of  the  General  Association 
was  in  a  state  of  chaos.  Little  work  had  been  done, 
and  that  little  had  not  been  paid  for.  It  would  be  im- 
possible in  the  limits  of  this  paper  to  trace  the  causes 
that  had  brought  about  the  lack  of  interest  on  the  part 
of  Missouri  Baptists  upon  the  subject  of  state  missions. 
And  had  I  the  space  to  state  here  even  what  I  know  as 
to  these  causes,  it  might  not  be  profitable  to  record  all 
the  facts.  There  was  much  to  discourage  the  board, 
and  but  little  outside  the  promise  of  the  glorified  Re- 
deemer to  encourage  them." 

But  all  was  not  an  open  sea  and  fair  sailing  from 
1879  on.  Not  all  enemies  were  reconciled.  It  was 
manifested  that  not  all  the  opposition  to  the  General 
Association  was  based  upon  the  failure  of  that  body  to 
meet  all  expectations,  but  more  in  the  selfish  demands 
and  disappointed  ambitions  that  burned  in  the  hearts  of 
the  opposers.  Christian  charity  requires  the  conces- 
sion that  all  men  do  not  always  know  themselves.  It 
would  be  cruelty  to  go  behind  an  act  and  impugn  the 
motive,  if  actions  did  not  tell  the  story  of  their  nativity. 
Brethren  who  were  present  at  the  General  Association 

12 


lyS  A  Crisis. 

in  i878,  and  favored  the  adoption  of  the  plan  that 
worked  so  well  for  the  cause  of  state  missions,  re- 
turned from  that  meeting  to  oppose  the  work  and  the 
Association.  Dr.  Boyd  and  J.  M.  Robinson,  who  were 
of  the  committee  that  reported  the  plan,  failed  and  re  - 
fused  to  cooperate  with  the  Association  in  its  struggles 
to  make  the  plan  effective.  Dr.  Boyd  disclaimed  mem- 
bership on  the  board,  and  J.  M.  Robinson  was  led  to 
join  the  crusade  that  attempted  to  organize  an  opposi- 
tion convention.  That  convention,  conceived  in  weak- 
ness, died  of  infantile  inanition.  In  much  pain  and 
ghastly  gasping  for  respiration  it  expired  on  its  second 
natal  anniversary,  to  be  remembered  only  to  be  pitied  as 
a  short  lived  product  of  ambition  and  folly.  Its  prop- 
agation was  by  the  American  Baptist  Flag.  Its  de- 
mise is  not  chronicled — only  remembered.  It  has  a 
tombless  grave,  unwept  and  unsung.  It  was  not  re- 
sponsible for  its  appearance  among  living  things  and 
its  disappearance  must  not  be  caricatured. 

The  "Flag"  above  mentioned  was  a  journal  pub- 
lished in  Missouri,  and  had — as  it  claimed — an  im- 
mense circulation.  Among  its  readers  were  many  ex- 
cellent brothers  and  sisters  in  the  Lord.  It  was  fearless 
in  fighting  Roman  Catholics,  and  equally  hostile  to  all 
Baptists  who  ventured  not  to  think  in  all  respects  as  it 
seemed  to  think.  It  was  profoundly  impressed  that 
the  Baptist  churches  had  an  unbroken  and  easily  trace- 
able line  of  succession  from  the  Apostles  down  to  the 
present,  and  could  come  as  near  proving  it  as  any  one 
else  could.  The  conception  is  a  beautiful  and  flattering 
one,  but  no  more  promotive  of  the  graces  of  a  spiritual 
religion  than  is  the  belief  that  the  New  Testament 
scriptures  are  a  sufficient  charter  for  Baptist  churches. 

This  same  paper  made  a  vigorous,  but  somewhat 
Spanish-like  war  against  the  Missouri  Baptist  General 
Association.  It  fought  that  institution  with  every 
weapon  at  its  command  and  made  open  proclamation 


A  Crisis.  179 

that  it  should  go  down.  The  executive  board  and  cor- 
responding secretary  were  openly  and  repeatedly 
charged  with  every  manner  of  crime  within  the  cate- 
gories of  fraud  and  oppression.  Many  of  the  chief 
citizens  of  the  state  and  best  and  most  influential  of  the 
churches  in  the  state  were  charged  with  pandering  to 
the  dictum  of  one  man,  of  covering  up  facts,  misrep- 
resenting financial  figures,  malappropriating  the  Lord's 
money  and  using  the  board  as  a  "ring"  to  accomplish 
the  selfish  aims  of  personal  ends. 

There  were  many  good  persons  who,  because  they 
knew  nothing  about  the  General  Association,  believed 
these  awful  things  to  be  true.  They  were  led  to  beHeve 
that  their  brethren  were  capable  of  sins  of  the  greatest 
kind,  and  guilty  of  acts  for  which  they  could  be  prose- 
cuted and  convicted  under  the  criminal  laws  of  the 
state.  The  spirit  of  antagonism  was  reaching  the 
point  of  personal  animosity  in  those  who  were  led  to 
believe  certain  Baptists  were  despots,  ringsters  and 
purloiners.  Yet  the  instigator  of  these  charges  was  all 
the  while  claiming  the  privileges  of  the  floor  of  the 
General  Association  as  a  "life  member,"  and  seeking 
the  indorsement  of  his  "Flag,"  but  never  seeking  in  the 
General  Association  to  correct  the  evils  that  he  charged 
through  his  journal  to  exist  in  that  body. 

In  1879,  at  Kansas  City,  the  committee  on  relig- 
ious publications,  among  other  subjects,  presented  the 
following  commendation  of  The  Central  Baptist: 

"We  would  cheerfully  commend  The  Central  Bap- 
tist for  its  integrity  to  Baptist  principles  and  its  noble 
advocacy  of  our  missionary  and  educational  work  in 
the  state.  This  paper  deserves  a  wide  circulation,  and 
we  most  heartily  wash  it  could  be  put  in  every  Baptist 
family  in  the  state.  Once  again  we  urge  upon  our 
brethren  the  necessity  of  their  giving  the  denomination 
through  the  columns  of  our  paper  their  carefully  pre- 
pared thoughts  on  those  subjects  which  are  intimately 


I  So  A  Crisis. 

connected  with  our  denominational  enlightenment  and 
progress." 

After  a  motion  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  commit- 
tee had  been  stated,  there  was  a  motion  to  amend  the 
report  by  inserting  after  the  words  "Central  Baptist" 
the  additional  words  "and  the  American  Baptist  Flag." 
This  motion  to  amend  was  the  signal  for  a  prolonged 
and  animated  discussion,  in  which  many  speakers  par- 
ticipated. It  was  by  general  consent  conceded  that  the 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  publications,  Dr.  J.  C. 
Maple,  made  the  master  speech  of  the  session.  He  re- 
viewed the  relation  of  the  christian  press  to  the  prog- 
ress of  Christianity;  warmly  insisting  that  the  right 
mission  of  the  press  was  to  build  up  and  not  to  tear 
down ;  to  promote  fellowship  and  unity  rather  than  con- 
tention and  disintegration.  That  the  General  Associa- 
tion was  the  Missouri  Baptist  organization  for  the  pro- 
motion of  Baptist  principles  in  the  state,  and  that  it 
would  be  worse  than  self-stultification — it  would  be 
suicidal  to  indorse  a  paper  that  in  every  issue  sought  to 
obstruct  the  work  of  the  General  Association.  He 
freely  admitted  the  right  of  any  man  to  start  and  con- 
tinue the  publication  of  a  paper  under  any  name  that 
pleased  his  fancy,  so  long  as  he  did  not  violate  the  laws 
of  the  state.  He  would  not  deny  the  freedom  of  speech 
nor  the  freedom  of  the  press.  But  he  claimed  for  the 
General  Association  the  same  right  that  he  conceded  to 
the  individual. 

The  remarks  of  the  speaker  often  rose  to  the  point 
of  fervent  and  thrilling  eloquence  as  he  insisted  upon 
the  General  Association  maintaining  consistency  and 
self-respect.  The  motion  to  amend  was  lost,  and  the 
report  was  adopted  as  it  came  from  the  committee. 

After  this  session  of  the  Association,  the  "Flag' 
war  against  it  became  more  persistent  and  bitterly  em- 
phatic, until  the  executive  board  felt  constrained,  for 
the  sake  of  truth  and  the  dignity  of  the  General  Asso- 


A  Crisis.  iSi 

ciation,  to  publicly  answer  the  severe  and  groundless 
charges  repeatedly  made  against  it  by  the  opposition 
journal.  The  president  and  corresponding  secretary 
of  the  board  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  a 
refutation  of  the  charges  and  a  vindication  of  the  As- 
sociation and  its  officers.  They  proceeded  to  the  work 
laid  upon  them.  The  paper  prepared  by  them  was  ap- 
proved by  the  board,  and  signed  by  sixteen  of  the  nine- 
teen members,  and  published  in  uncovered  pamphlet 
form  under  title  of:  "A  Vindication  of  the  Missouri 
Baptist  General  Association  and  the  Executive  Board, 
against  the  allegations  of  the  American  Baptist  Flag." 
*' (Published  by  order  of  the  board.)" 

Several  thousand  copies  of  this  paper  were  sent 
throughout  the  state.  The  effect  was  prompt  and  de- 
cided. Luke-warm  friends  of  the  Association  were 
aroused  to  sympathetic  and  hearty  cooperation  in  state 
mission  work.  Contributions  were  at  once  and  consid- 
erably enlarged.  A  permanent  forward  movement 
was  manifest.  Access  to  churches  became  easier,  and 
many  churches  that  had  never  before  contributed  to 
state  missions  were  enrolled  with  the  contributing 
churches. 

At  the  meeting  at  Carrollton  in  1880,  Rev.  Dr.  S. 
H.  Ford  offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolution, 
which  were  adopted  by  a  vote  of  108  to  6 : 

"Whereas,  The  Missionary  Board  of  this  Asso- 
ciation, convinced  that  the  work  assigned  to  it  would  be 
impeded  and  the  character  of  the  denomination  changed 
by  published  misunderstandings  or  misstatements, 
which  had  been  widely  circulated,  gave  to  the  public  a 
statement  or  vindication  of  the  rule  and  spirit  govern- 
ing its  course  of  action,  as  an  executive  body,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  As  the  sense  of  this  Association  that 
said  statement  or  vindication  was  demanded  by  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  is  herebv  heartilv  indorsed." 


CHAPTER  XI. 

A  JUBILEE. 

"A  jubilee  shall  the  fiftieth  year 
be  unto  you." — Leviticus. 

To  the  hopeful  and  courageous  and  conscience- 
approving  man  or  woman,  the  coming  of  the  light  of 
day  after  the  darkness  of  night  is  a  joy.  The  grey 
light  of  dawn  and  then  the  gilded  horizon  awaken  hope 
and  inspire  courage.  Much  more  does  a  season  of 
prosperity  following  a  period  of  adversity,  doubt  and 
gloom  bring  gladness,  and  drive  away,  even  into  for- 
getfulness,  the  darkness  and  despondency  of  the  past. 
Few,  indeed,  are  the  living  who  have  not  found  at  least 
occasional  compensation  for  sadness  and  burdens  and 
disappointments  in  realizations  of  hopes  deferred,  or  in 
gladsome  surprises.  The  toilers  for  knowledge  or 
fortune  who  endure  hardships  and  privations  that  an 
ultimate  good  may  be  reached,  find  exquisite  delight  in 
the  certain  approach  of  the  consummation  of  long  cher- 
ished and  almost  devout  wishes. 

The  stand-by  friends  of  the  General  Association 
of  Missouri  Baptists,  who  had  seen  and  felt  the  days  of 
adversity  and  weakness,  and  who  in  toils  and  tears  and 
prayers  had  long  sought  its  deliverance  from  what 
seemed  only  peril,  began,  as  we  have  seen,  in  1879,  to 
hope  for  the  return  of  prosperity,  and  make  very  mod- 
est suggestions  of  probabilities  for  the  ensuing  year. 
"We  earnestly  wish  that  next  year  the  board  may  have 
at  least  $5,000  with  which  to  work  in  this  glorious 
cause." 

When  the  next  year  came,  and  ended  with  the 
meeting  at  Carrollton  in  October,  1880,  the  treasurer's 

182 


A  Jubilee.  1S3 

account  shows  that  the  receipts  for  the  year  were 
$5,753.81.  At  that  meeting  the  committee  on  finances, 
through  its  chairman,  Rev.  B.  G.  Tutt,  closed  their  re- 
port with  these  words :  "We  hope  the  contributions  for 
the  coming  year  may  reach  at  least  $10,000." 

At  the  next  meeting,  held  with  the  Third  Baptist 
church  in  St.  Louis,  the  treasurer's  report  showed  the 
total  receipts  to  be  for  the  year  then  closing,  $11,199.69. 
Then  the  committee  on  "The  work  Done,"  with  Rev. 
J.  D.  Biggs  as  chairman,  said :  "Truly  it  may  be  said, 
our  last  work  is  our  best.  This  increased  success  is  due 
mainly,  under  God,  to  our  corresponding  secretary  who 
has  labored  almost  unremittingly  on  the  field  and  the 
office. 

"We  beg  the  board  and  the  brethren  not  to  become 
too  elated  with  success,  and  relax  their  efforts ;  but  en- 
deavor to  make  the  year  to  come  more  laborious  and 
successful  still.  The  field  is  still  large  and  inviting, 
but  the  laborers  are  few.  May  the  Lord  of  the  harvest 
send  more  laborers  into  the  harvest." 

At  the  next  meeting,  held  with  the  First  church  at 
Springfield,  the  treasurer  reported  the  total  receipts  for 
state  missions  for  the  year  $12,860.89.  -^^  this  meet- 
ing the  committee  on  "Work  Done,"  with  B.  G.  Tutt  as 
chairman,  said  in  the  report  to  the  Association :  "We 
contemplate  with  devout  gratitude  to  Almighty  God 
the  work  done  by  the  board,  and  by  our  devoted  self- 
sacrificing  missionaries  during  the  year  just  closed. 

"When  we  take  into  consideration  the  stringency 
of  money  matters  in  consequence  of  the  almost  total 
failure  of  crops  in  many  sections  of  our  state  in  the 
year  1881,  the  effects  of  which  were  most  seriously  felt 
during  at  least  half  of  the  present  associational  year,  we 
can  not  fail  to  recognize  the  blessings  of  the  Lord  upon 
our  labors.  *  *  *  We  would  give  emphasis  to  the  fact 
that  our  missionaries,  for  the  most  part,  have  given 
their  entire  time  to  the  work  during  the  past  year.     To 


1^4  A  Jubilee. 

them,  under  God,  is  due  much  of  the  success  which  to- 
day fills  our  hearts  with  gladness.  Through  heat  and 
cold,  sunshine  and  shadow  they  have  prosecuted  with 
singular  devotion  and  consecration  the  work  of  preach- 
ing the  gospel  to  the  poor — a  work  which  engaged  the 
labors  and  enlisted  the  sympathy  of  our  Divine  Lord." 

At  this  same  meeting  the  committee  on  that  part  of 
the  report  of  the  missionary  board  on  retrospect,  was 
presented  by  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  chairman  of  committee. 
This  committee  suggested  the  idea  of  the  jubilee : 

"  *  *  *  As  we  near  the  (semi)  centennial  year  of 
its  (General  Association)  history,  we  can  not  retrospect 
its  course  without  emotions  of  joyous  gratitude  for  the 
changes  wrought  and  the  good  accomplished  by  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  through  this  agency.  *  '•'  * 

"Therefore,  Resolved,  That  the  churches  and  asso- 
ciations and  all  under  the  influence  of  our  principles 
and  interest  in  our  history,  be  awakened  to  prepare  for 
a  grand  gathering,  and  a  fresh  and  forward  movement 
at  our  semi-centennial  in  1884." 

The  next  year,  1883,  the  Association  met  at  Tren- 
ton. The  treasurer  reports  that  the  total  receipts  from 
all  sources  for  state  missions  for  the  year  ending  at  that 
meeting  were  $12,015.60.  This  shows  a  slight  falling 
off  as  compared  with  the  receipts  of  the  preceding  year. 
This  is  explained  by  a  quotation  from  the  report  of  the 
committee  on  corresponding  secretary.  Dr.  W.  R. 
Rothwell  chairm.an :  "We  trust  that  the  prostration  he 
(the  corresponding  secretary)  has  suffered  from  over- 
work during  the  past  year  is  but  temporary,  and  that 
with  restored  health  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  will 
strengthen  his  hands  for  the  good  work :  but  the  work 
as  he  is  conducting  it  is  manifestly  too  much  for  one 
man." 

Notwithstanding  the  failure  to  reach  the  contribu- 
tions, by  a  few  hundred  dollars,  of  the  preceding  year, 
the  board  was  prepared  to  announce  that  there  would 


A  Jubilee.  1 85 

be  no  debt  against  the  General  Association,  but  to  the 
tontrary,  a  balance  to  its  credit  of  $184.58. 

At  the  evening  session  of  the  second  day  ''a  mass 
meeting  was  then  held  in  the  interest  of  state  missions. 
After  remarks  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Maple  and  the  moderator, 
there  were  raised  in  pledges  and  cash  for  the  work  of 
the  coming  year  about  $3,776.00.  Previous  to  this  it 
was  announced  that  the  board  would  not  be  in  debt  for 
the  labor  of  the  last  year." 

The  report  of  the  board  of  state  missions,  in  the 
annual  report  made  the  following  recommendation  for 
the  celebration  of  the  semi-centennial  of  the  General 
Association : 

"semi-centp:nnial. 

"We  would  call  the  attention  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation to  the  fact  that  the  meeting  in  1884  will  be  the 
fiftieth  anniversary  of  this  body. 

"We  recommend,  therefore,  that  some  arrange- 
ments be  made  by  which  the  occasion  of  our  semi-cen- 
tennial meeting  be  made  one  of  such  interest  as  shall  be 
worthy  of  the  people  and  the  cause  represented. 

"Our  churches  should  all  have  an  opportunity  to 
make  a  thank-offering  to  the  Lord. 

"The  progress  of  our  cause  should  be  suitably 
noted. 

"The  toils  and  sacrifices  of  those  who  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  our  work  in  this  state  should  be  held  up  be- 
fore the  people  that  we  may  prove  ourselves  not  un- 
grateful to  the  memory  of  those  to  whom  we  owe  so 
much.  And  the  incentives  to  greater  exertion  should 
be  laid  upon  the  heart  of  every  Baptist  in  the  state." 

To  report  to  the  Association  on  the  above  recom- 
mendation, the  moderator  appointed  the  following 
committee:  "J.  T.  Williams,  B.  F.  Rice.  C.  H.  Hardii\ 
J.  U.  W^illis,  R.  S.  Duncan." 


1 86  A  Jubilee. 

The  foregoing  committee  submitted  the  following 
report : 

"Your  committee  on  that  part  of  the  report  of  the 
missionary  board  relating  to  the  semi-centennial  cele- 
bration in  1884  beg  leave  to  report  the  following  order 
of  exercises  for  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  sec- 
ond day  of  the  meeting  in  1884 

"ist.  An  address  on  the  origin  and  progress  of  the 
Missouri  Baptist  General  Association;  Rev.  J.  T.  Wil- 
liams, Paris. 

"2d.  A  sermon  on  the  spirit  and  scope  of  the  state 
mission  work;  Rev.  W.  Pope  Yeaman,  Columbia. 

'''3d.  The  changes  of  the  last  fifty  years;  Rev.  S. 
H.  Ford,  St.  Louis. 

"4th.  The  rise  and  work  of  our  educational  insti- 
tutions; Rev.  J.  C.  Armstrong,  Mexico. 

"5th.  That  the  missionary  board  be  instructed  to 
inaugurate  measures  and  plans  by  wdiich  every  pastor, 
church  and  missionary  in  the  state  may  be  induced  to 
make  a  liberal  memorial  offering,  in  means  and  influ- 
ence, to  the  work  of  state  missions  for  the  semi-centen- 
nial year.  J.  T.  Williams,  Chairman." 

The  General  Association  referred  the  report  of  the 
semi-centennial  celebration  committee  to  the  executive 
board  for  such  further  arrangements  as  to  it  may  seem 
necessary. 

The  executive  board  extended  the  order  of  serv- 
ices, and  arranged  a  programme  for  the  exercises  as 
follows : 

Tuesday:  Introductory  sermon.  Rev.  G.  W. 
Hatcher  (elected  by  General  Association).  "Origin 
and  progress  of  the  General  Association,"  John  T.  Wil  • 
liams,  D.  D.  "The  missionaries  of  fifty  years,"  W.  J. 
Patrick,  D.  D. 

Wednesday:  "The  spirit  and  scope  of  state  mis- 
sions," W.  Pope  Yeaman,  D.  D. 


A  Jubilee.  1S7 

Thursday:  "The  moderators  of  the  General  As 
sociation,"  J.  C.  Maple,  D.  D.  "The  corresponding  sec- 
retaries of  the  General  Association,"  Rev.  W.  M.  Bell. 

Friday  :  Educational  institutions,  Rev.  J.  C.  Arm- 
strong.    Ministerial  education,  W.  R.  Rothwell,  D.  D. 

Saturday  :  Changes  of  fifty  years,  S.  H.  Ford, 
D.  D.      Sunday  Schools,  Rev.  M.  J.  Breaker. 

To  this  programme,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
author  of  this  book,  the  address  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham 
on  the  "Organizers  of  the  General  Association"  was 
added. 

Notwithstanding  the  financial  progress  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  from  i878  to  the  time  for  celebrating 
the  origin  of  the  Association  at  its  fiftieth  anniversary, 
has  been  herein  traced,  it  must  not  be  inferred  that  that 
progress  was  the  only  ground  for  the  enthusiasm  and 
rejoicing  at  the  memorable  jubilee.  The  recollections, 
traditions  and  history  of  the  past  fifty  years  entered 
largely  into  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion;  and  then, 
to  incentives  to  the  joys  of  the  meeting  must  be  added, 
the  spiritual  fruits  to  missionary  efifort  that  have  been 
borne  during  the  period  mentioned.  There  were  em- 
ployed as  missionaries  and  missionary  pastors  142  min- 
isters of  the  gospel.  These  preached  11,030  sermons; 
baptized  i,7o6  persons,  constituted  twenty-two  new 
churches  and  influenced  and  aided  in  the  building  of 
eleven  new  houses  of  worship.  As  to  baptisms,  it 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  missionaries  report  only 
those  baptisms  administered  by  their  own  hands.  Many 
of  their  precious  meetings  were  held  in  aid  of  pastors 
of  weak  churches,  these  pastors  doing  the  baptism  of 
the  converts.  This  fact  will  explain  that  in  1882  there 
were  reported  714  conversions,  and  only  443  baptisms, 
and  in  1883.  conversions  787,  while  the  reported  bap- 
tisms were  605. 

To  brethren  who  have  come  to  the  front  in  General 
Association  work  since  1884,  it  will  easily  appear  that. 


1 88  A  Jubilee. 

the  active  and  anxious  workers  of  that  day  had  no 
small  reasons  for  a  joyous  jubilee — and  they  had  it. 

On  the  morning  of  October  21,  1884,  the  thriving 
and  cultured  town  of  Marshall,  the  county  seat  of  the 
fertile  and  beautiful  county  of  Saline,  was  thronged 
with  an  enthusiastic  concourse  of  men  and  women, 
gathered  together  from  all  sections  of  the  state  of  Mis- 
souri, with  a  goodly  number  of  visitors  from  other 
states.  By  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  new,  spacious  and  ele- 
gant Baptist  house  of  worship,  so  recently  built  under 
the  administration  of  pastor  J.  C.  Maple,  was  filled  to 
overflowing.  Of  messengers  from  churches  and  from 
Associations  and  of  life  members  of  the  Associations 
there  was  an  associational  membership  of  nearly  five 
hundred.  Of  non-commissioned  attendants  from 
churches,  and  visitors  from  other  states,  there  were  as 
many  more.  This  multitude  did  not  overtax  the  hos- 
pitality, nor  afflict  the  patience  of  the  good  people  of 
Marshall  of  all  denominations.  Resident  families  and 
individuals  seemed  to  vie  with  one  another  in  generous 
and  courteous  hospitality. 

The  Association  was  called  to  order  at  precisely 
10 :30  o'clock,  and  religious  exercises  were  introduced 
by  congregational  singing  of  the  hymn  beginning 
"How  firm  a  foundation  ye  saints  of  the  Lord." 

The  walls  of  the  house  seemed  to  vibrate  in  emo- 
tional response  to  the  swelling  volumes  of  praises  to 
the  Divine  person  of  christian  faith  and  love.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  hymn  the  moderator  read  the  forty- 
sixth  Psalm,  and  then  asked  the  venerable  and  beloved 
Rev.  J.  F.  (Uncle  Frank)  Smith  to  lead  in  prayer.  The 
soul-filled  thanks,  the  unaffected  praises  and  the  fer- 
vent supplications  of  that  prayer  pouring  forth  from  an 
honest  heart  and  unpolluted  lips  in  tremulous  pathos 
filled  all  hearts  with  tenderness  and  many  eyes  with 
tears. 


A  JnhilQe.  1S9 

Then  came  the  introductory,  sermon  by  Rev.  Green 
W.  Hatcher,  then  pastor  of  the  church  at  Carrollton. 
The  theme  was  "Divine  Companionship."  The  primal 
text :  "And  they  shall  call  His  name  Emmanuel,  which 
being  interpreted,  is,  God  with  us ;"  Matt.  1 123.  To 
those  who  are  accustomed  to  hearing  Dr.  Hatcher  it  is 
needless  to  say  that,  the  discourse  was  timely,  words 
fitly  spoken  and  in  season.  In  his  exordium  he  briefly 
and  graphically  presented  the  original  companionship 
of  God  and  man ;  how  sin  had  broken  into  and  broken 
up  this  fellowship,  and  separated  man  from  God;  how 
in  Jesus  the  christ  of  God — God  with  us — divine  love 
had  provided  for  man's  restoration  to  God,  and  eternal 
companionship.  He  then  proceeded  to  elaborate  the  two 
following  thoughts : 

"L  This  Doctrine  and  Promise  enable  us  to  read 
understandingly  the  history  of  Christianity. 

"H.  In  the  light  of  our  text  we  can  account  for 
some  strange  things  connected  with  the  present." 

The  appropriateness  and  force  of  the  preacher's 
thoughts  aided  in  giving  a  happy  trend  to  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  following  days. 

Then  followed  in  due  time  the  address  of  welcome 
from  Pastor  Maple.  This  welcome  had  the  charm  of 
appropriateness  of  sentiment,  and  was  truly  represen- 
tative of  the  good  will  of  our  hosts.  The  speaker  wel- 
comed the  members  of  the  Association  who  had  borne 
the  "heat  and  burden  of  the  day"  for  many  years;  he 
welcomed  the  "missionaries  who  have  gone  into  the 
destitute  regions  preaching  the  word  and  have  'endured 
hardness'  for  the  ]\Iaster's  sake,  or  who  have  led  the 
forlorn  hope  in  growing  towns  and  cities,  and  whose 
bosoms  God  has  filled  with  the  'sheaves  of  the  golden 
grain;'  he  welcomed  the  pleaders  in  the  cause  of  mis- 
sions and  the  cause  of  education;  he  welcomed  the 
toilers  in  our  schools  and  colleges,  and  he  especially 
welcomed  the  sisters  who  are  here  with  hearts  full  of 


19-  A,  Jubilee. 

the  love  of  Christ,  and  whose  faces  beam  with  Hght 
from  the  cross,  and  who  are  ready  for  every  good  word 
and  work.  *  *  * 

"But  we  welcome  yon  here  most  of  all  because  you 
are  engaged  in  the  Master's  work.  For  fifty  years  has 
God  led  this  General  Association.  *  =!=  *  Yet  brethren 
our  work  is  but  begun.  When  this  body  was  organ- 
ized there  were  in  Missouri  about  five  thousand  Bap- 
tists. The  population  was  then  *  *  *  about  237,753. 
There  are  now,  therefore,  in  the  city  of  St,  Louis  alone 
more  people  who  are  without  the  gospel  than  the  entire 
population  of  Missouri  in  1834.  *  *  * 

"In  closing,  I  say  once  more  to  all  who  are  here,  to 
all  who  may  come  to  join  us  in  our  glad  jubilee,  we  ex- 
tend a  most  hearty  welcome.  God  grant  this  meeting 
shall  be  one  filled  with  all  those  characteristics  that 
show  the  presence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  among  a  people 
who  are  redeemed  by  the  precious  blood  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ." 

Following  the  address  of  welcome  came  the  re- 
sponse in  behalf  of  the  General  Association  by  Dr.  B.  G. 
Tutt,  the  pastor  at  Liberty. 

"*  *  *  I  suppose  the  moderator  asked  me  to  re- 
spond to  this  address  of  welcome  because  a  residence 
of  nearly  six  years  in  this  city  afforded  ample  opportu- 
nity for  me  to  speak  with  confidence  of  the  genuine, 
whole-souled  hospitality  which  characterizes  this  com- 
munity. 

"*  *  *  From  time  immemorial  men  have  erected 
monuments  to  symbolize  some  mighty  deliverance  of 
the  Lord,  or  to  keep  in  perpetual  remembrance  some 
manifestation  of  His  generous  favor. 

"*  *  *  In  the  good  providence  of  God  we  have 
come  to  the  fiftieth  annual  meeting  of  the  General  As- 
sociation of  Missouri.  What  mighty  changes  have 
been  wrought  during  that  time !  Fifty  years  ago  the 
state  of  Missouri  contained  a  population  less  than  the 


A  Jubilee.  191 

present  population  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  There  was 
not  a  railroad  or  telegraph  line  in  the  state,  and  the 
wildest  imagination  had  not  conceived  a  city  like  Kan- 
sas City  on  our  western  border.  At  that  time  not  a 
single  house  stood  on  the  site  of  this  beautiful  flourish- 
ing city. 

"*  *  *  Fifty  years  ago  thirty  members,  eighteen 
preachers  and  twelve  laymen,  representing  seventy- 
seven  ministers,  one  hundred  and  fifty  churches  and 
five  thousand,  three  hundred  and  fifty-seven  members, 
met  and  organized  this  body.  To-day  there  are  in  this 
state  eight  hundred  Baptist  ministers,  fourteen  hun- 
dred. Baptist  churches  and  a  membership  of  one  hun- 
dred thousand.  Surely  my  brethren,  as  we  stand  to- 
day in  the  light  that  comes  down  our  history  for  the 
past  fifty  years,  we  can  say  with  devout  gratitude, 
'hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.' 
"But  what  of  the  future?" 

The  conclusion  of  the  address  that  followed  this 
question  was  both  practical  and  pathetic. 

At  this  point  in  the  proceedings,  Hon.  H.  C.  Wal- 
lace, of  Lexington,  presented  the  moderator  with  a 
cane  made  of  the  wood  of  the  old  Bethel  meeting  house, 
built  in  1806,  the  first  protestant  house  of  worship  west 
of  the  Mississippi  river.  The  following  account  of  the 
incident  is  taken  from  the  authentic  publications  of  the 
General  Association : 

"Presentation  of  cane  to  Rev.  W.  Pope  Yeaman, 
D.  D.,  Moderator,  by  Hon.  H.  C.  Wallace,  at  Marshall, 
October  21,  1884. 

"The  history  of  Baptists,  in  the  country  west  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  now  known  as  Missouri,  formerly 
"upper  Louisiana"  is,  indeed  an  inspiration;  commenc- 
ing in  the  eighteenth  century,  in  1796,  when  the  country 
was  under  the  control  of  the  French  government,  and 
the  Roman  Catholic  was  the  established  religion,  prior 
to  the  cession  of  the  country  by  France  to  the  United 


192  A  Jubilee. 

States — a  small  but  heroic  band  of  true-hearted  Bap- 
tists, exposed  to  all  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life 
erected  the  standard  of  the  cross  emblazoned  with  'soul 
liberty'  in  the  howling  wilderness,  surrounded  by  sav- 
age Indians  and  environed  by  priestly  intolerance. 
Here  and  under  these  circumstances  were  organized  the 
first  churches,  and  erected  the  first  church  buildings, 
other  than  Catholic,  ever  organized  or  erected  west  of 
the  great  'father  of  waters.'  Among  those  early  teach- 
ers and  defenders  of  the  faith,  as  we  hold  it,  were  Elds. 
John  Clark,  David  Green,  Thomas  Johnson,  James 
Kerr,  and  Thomas  R.  Music,  and  later,  James  M.  Peck 
and  James  E.  Welch,  whose  memories  we  recall  on  this 
semi-centennial  occasion  with  pride  and  thankfulness 
to  God,  for  the  great  work  they  were  enabled  by  His 
strength,  to  inaugurate  in  these  ends  of  the  earth. 
These  men  were  as  thoroughly  missionaries  as  those 
engaged  now  in  disseminating  the  truth  among  the 
bigoted  populations  of  Italy,  Mexico  and  South  Amer- 
ica. The  first  house  of  worship  erected  in  this  terri- 
tory, except  by  Catholics,  was  by  the  Bethel  Baptist 
church,  in  what  is  now  Cape  Girardeau  county,  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  present  site  of  Jackson,  its  county 
seat,  in  1806,  of  hewn  poplar  logs.  This  venerable 
structure,  long  known  as  'old  Bethel  church,'  after  re- 
sounding for  over  a  half  century  with  the  sound  of  the 
gospel  and  the  voice  of  prayer  and  praise,  has  been 
torn  down,  and  its  timbers  are  being  destroyed  by  the 
hand  of  man  and  the  ravages  of  time.  And  whilst  Bap- 
tists are,  perhaps,  of  all  people,  most  averse  to  connect- 
ing any  idea  of  superstition  or  sacredness  to  mortal 
man  or  material  objects,  we  have  deemed  it  not  inap- 
propriate on  this  semi-centennial  occasion  of  Baptists 
in  Missouri,  now  grown  to  near  a  hundred  thousand  in 
numbers,  having  procured  a  piece  of  the  timber  from 
which  the  first  Baptist  church  was  erected  in  said  terri- 
tory, to  cause  it  to  be  fashioned  into  a  walking  cane,  to 


A  Jubilee.  193 

be  presented  to  you,  brother  Moderator,  as  a  memento 
of  the  noble  Baptist  men  and  women  whose  piety  and 
zeal  prompted  them  to  the  erection  of  this  temple  of 
God,  in  the  wilderness,  and  who  laid  so  well  the  foun- 
dations of  our  Baptist  faith  and  Baptist  brotherhood. 
Please  accept,  brother  Moderator,  this  token,  without 
costly  appendage,  becoming  the  simple  mode  of  life  of 
our  fathers,  and  small  in  intrinsic  value,  but  rich  in 
historic  interest,  as  a  slight  testimonial  of  our  appre- 
ciation of  your  arduous,  effective,  and  self-sacrificing 
labors  in  the  cause  of  missions  in  Missouri.  Its  body  is 
of  poplar  from  the  'old  Bethel  church,'  whilst  its  head 
is  cherry,  recently  from  our  forests,  cemented  by  this 
silver  band,  emblematic  of  brotherly  love — thus  uniting 
the  past  wath  the  present,  as  our  meeting  does  this  day. 

"May  the  pleasing  and  inspiring  associations  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  this  cane,  give  the  spiritual 
man  moral  comfort  and  support  in  the  further  prosecu- 
tion of  your  ministerial  and  missionary  labors,  and  its 
material  structure  sustain  and  support  the  steps  of  your 
physical  man  through  the  remainder  of  your  earthly 
pilgrimage." 

"The  moderator's  response: 

"My  honored  brethren: — It  would  be  sheer  afifecta- 
tion  in  me,  did  I  not  express  my  great  gratification  at 
this,  another  symbol  of  the  affectionate  esteem  in  which 
my  co-laborers  in  this  General  Association  hold  my 
work  as  a  member,  and  as  presiding  officer.  In  accept- 
ing this  cane  as  an  historical  emblem,  my  mind  naturally 
and  pleasantly  reverts  to  the  highly  ornamented  cane 
presented  to  me  by  the  ministers  of  this  body  a  few 
years  since  as  an  expression  of  personal  esteem.  May 
the  two,  in  my  hands,  be  constant  reminders  of  the  per- 
sonal affection  and  historical  ties  that  should  ever  bind 
the  members  of  this  Association  in  the  fellowship  of  la- 
bor and  love.  I  trust  that  your  expressions  of  apprecia- 


194  ^  Jubilee. 

tion  of  my  services  to  the  work  of  this  honorable  body 
may  minister  to  my  humility." 

Following  the  cane  presentation  to  the  moderator, 
was  an  interesting  incident  of  general  interest.  Rev. 
Dr.  W.  H.  Williams,  editor  of  the  Central  Baptist,  pre- 
sented a  gavel  of  rare  taste  and  beauty,  in  the  following 
chaste  and  impressive  address : 
"Brother  Moderator: 

"I  have  a  pleasant  duty  to  perform  at  this  time, 
and  I  beg  that  this  body  pause  a  few  moments  that  I 
may  reveal  my  mission. 

"This  vast  gathering  marks  an  epoch  in  our  de- 
nominational history  in  Missouri. 

"This  Association  was  born  of  the  consuming  desire 
on  the  part  of  christian  men  to  give  the  gospel  to  the 
destitute. 

"Sincere  love  to  God  and  man  led  that  little  heroic 
band  of  eighteen  ministers  and  twelve  laymen  together 
fifty  years  ago  in  Callaway  county,  to  devise  some  plan 
for  the  more  rapid  and  general  diffusion  of  gospel  light. 
They  met  with  bitter  hostility  within  and  without.  The 
story  of  the  struggles  is  a  record  of  patient  suffering, 
noble  endeavor  and  strong  faith. 

"Our  covenant  keeping  God  marked  their  tears, 
heard  their  prayers  and  prospered  their  toils. 

"Half  a  century  ago  the  Baptists  of  Missouri  num- 
bered about  6,000  members,  150  churches,  and  about 
eighty  preachers.  Now  they  have  in  round  numbers 
100,000  communicants,  1,400  churches  and  1,000  min- 
isters. The  first  contribution  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion amounted  to  $69.25.  Now  its  annual  gift  to  state 
missions  approximates  $15,000.00.  Within  the  state  of 
Missouri  it  commissions  fifty  missionaries,  who  bring 
up  to  this  meeting  the  joyous  report  of  the  conversion 
of  scores  and  hundreds  through  their  labors.  Under 
these  circumstances  it  is  fitting  that  we  should  make 
this,  our  golden  anniversary,  an  occasion,  not  of  vain 


A  Jubilee.  195 

glory,  but  of  grateful  joy,  and  1  may  be  pardoned  for 
the  desire  to  contribute  something  to  the  visible  interest 
of  this  meeting. 

"Along  with  other  brethren  who  were  in  attend- 
ance at  the  semi-centennial  meeting  in  Callaway  county 
during  the  last  summer,  I  visited  the  ruins  of  old  Brick 
Providence  church,  wdiere  the  General  Association  was 
organized.  Amid  those  ruins  there  lay  a  pillar  of 
cherry  wood,  which  had  in  part  sustained  the  building. 
A  fragment  of  this  pillar  was  secured  by  our  venerable 
brother  Jeremiah  B.  Vardeman,  and  placed  in  my 
hands,  and  out  of  that  piece  of  wood,  this  gavel  has 
been  made.  Were  this  wood  gifted  with  the  power  of 
speech,  it  could  tell  with  thrilling  interest  of  scenes  both 
joyous  and  painful  in  the  early  history  of  our  people  in 
this  state.  It  may,  however,  serve  as  a  suggestive  me- 
mento of  these  things.  Of  all  people  who  live  or  have 
ever  lived  upon  the  earth,  none  have  greater  reason 
than  the  Baptists  of  Missouri  to  thank  God  and  take 
courage. 

"It  is  certainly  not  my  wash  that  the  gavel  pre- 
sented this  body  by  Dr.  Maple  should  fall  into  disuse, 
but  I  have  thought  that,  wath  his  permission,  and  that 
of  the  Association,  it  would  be  appropriate  on  this 
special  occasion,  at  least,  that  this  body  shall  act  in  obe- 
dience to  the  tap  of  this  fragment  of  wood  taken  from 
the  spot  where  the  Association  was  born.  Hoping  that 
such  permission  wall  be  granted,  I  now,  through  you, 
Bro.  Moderator,  present  to  this  body  to  hold  and  keep 
until  its  centennial  gathering,  this  unpretending  ensign 
of  the  honorable  position  which  you  hold." 

The  moderator,  upon  receiving  the  gavel  presented 
by  Dr.  Williams,  invited  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  of  Ford's 
Christian  Repository,  to  respond  in  behalf  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  Dr.  Ford's  response  was  in  his  char- 
acteristically felicitous  and  eloquent  style.     He  spoke 


196  A  Jubilee. 

ex  tempore,  as  is  his  manner,  and  he  has  not  reproduced 
the  speech  for  publication. 

The  General  Association  formally  and  gratefully 
accepted  the  gavel  and  ordered  that  the  moderator  use 
it  during  this  semi-centennial  meeting;  and  that  it  be 
held  and  kept  until  the  centennial  meeting  in  1934.  The 
moderator  suggests  that  it  be  safely  kept  until  the  time 
designated  and  that  it  then  be  exhibited  to  the  General 
Association,  accompanied  by  a  reading  of  Dr.  Williams' 
speech  of  presentation.  Not  many  who  attended  the 
semi-centennial  in  1884,  will  be  present  in  the  flesh  at 
the  centennial  meeting,  but  such  as  may  be  permitted  to 
live  till  then  and  attend  the  great  gathering  of  Baptists 
to  assemble  at — Marshall,  we  trust,  will  be  delighted 
to  see  again  the  memorial  gavel. 

At  this  same  session,  Dr.  W.  H.  Williams,  through 
the  hands  of  the  moderator,  presented  to  Dr.  J.  C. 
Maple,  president  of  the  state  mission  board,  a  handsome 
walking  stick  made  from  a  timber  from  the  remains  of 
Brick  Providence  church.  To  the  presentation  re- 
marks by  the  moderator,  Dr.  Maple  responded — from 
a  surprised  heart — in  words  tenderly  grateful  of  this 
acknowledgment  and  beautiful  recognition  of  his  offi- 
cial services. 

Following  these  incidental  proceedings,  suggested 
by  the  interesting  peculiarity  of  the  meeting,  came  the 
regular  business.  The  annual  report  of  the  executive 
board  was  prepared  and  read  by  the  corresponding  sec- 
retary, at  the  request  of  the  president  of  the  board.  This 
report  exhibited  the  work  of  the  year  as  follows : 

Town  churches  aided 34 

General  missionaries 15 

Sermons    preached , 4,220 

Conversions 682 

Baptisms 456 

Churches   constituted 14 

Total   amount   money    received    for    state 

missions  $15^364  ^6 

Expended  for  state  missions 13,380  25 

Balance  for  state  missions.  . $1,984  5^ 


A  Jubilee.  197 

The  report  was  referred  to  proper  committees,  for 
presenting  the  different  topics  for  consideration. 

At  the  opening  of  the  evening  session,  7  o'clock, 
the  moderator  announced  that,  in  addition  to  the  num- 
bers on  the  printed  programme,  which  had  been  gratu- 
itously furnished  by  Bro.  L.  E.  Kline,  business  man- 
ager of  the  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  American  Baptist 
publication  society,  artistically  executed  in  golden  let- 
ters on  tinted  paper,  significant  of  the  golden  anniver- 
sary of  the  General  Association,  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham 
would  present  a  paper  on  "The  men  Avho  organized  the 
General  Association." 

This  paper  was  a  striking  pen  picture  of  the  men 
who  fifty  years  before,  had  under  circumstances  and 
conditions  very  different  from  those  of  the  semi-centen- 
nial meeting,  organized  the  Association.  Dr.  Burn- 
ham's  admirable  paper — with  a  characteristic  exor- 
dium— was  listened  to  wath  unabated  intensity  of  inter- 
est and  delight.  As  the  author  read  his  paper,  many  of 
the  immense  audience  fancied  they  could  see  the  men 
he  so  graphically  exhibited.  Of  course,  the  nature  of 
the  address  forbids  analysis,  and  the  reader  must  be  re- 
ferred to  the  memorial  volume  printed  and  published 
by  order  of  the  General  Association,  in  1884,  in  which 
the  address  can  be  found  in  full. 

Following  Dr.  Burnham's  address,  and  on  the 
same  evening.  Dr.  W.  J.  Patrick  delivered  an  address 
on  "The  Missionaries  of  Fifty  Years."  This  address 
is  of  special  literary  merit,  so  much  the  more,  because 
eternal  truths,  rich  experiences  of  christian  life,  vener- 
ated names  and  pathetic  memories  are  easily  and  appro- 
priately interwoven,  without  cold  and  stiff  formality,  in 
with  the  discussion  of  natural  and  practical  proposi- 
tions, flowing  from  a  two  line  introduction,  speaking 
of  the  missionaries  of  the  past  he  said :  "These  brethren 
had  every  uninspired  grace  and  fitness  for  the  gospel 


ipS  A  Jubilee. 

ministry  possessed  by  the  Apostles."  He  then  set  forth 
these  graces  in  the  following  form : 

"They  experienced  the  gospel  they  preached. 

''These  brethren  kneiv  men  and  things;  they  zvere 
the  sons  of  nature. 

"These  ivere  eloquent  men. 

"These  zvere  men  of  learning." 

He  then  presents  two  points  in  the  history  of  these 
earlier  missionaries : 

"Some  of  these  men  went  into  other  fields. 

"Our  first,  and  many  of  the  succeeding  mission- 
aries have  entered  into  their  rest." 

Ir  illustration  of  men  that  "knew  men  and  things," 
he  classes  James  Suggett,  Anderson  Woods  and  Martin 
D.  Noland  with  the  fisherman  Apostle.  He  presents 
Jeremiah  Vardeman  as  representing  the  "eloquent 
man."  As  "men  of  learning"  he  gives  us  Wm.  Hurley, 
R.  S.  Thomas,  John  B.  Longan,  and  A.  P.  Williams. 
In  speaking  of  those  who  "have  entered  into  their  rest" 
he  spoke  this  beautiful  passage:  "When  Godfrey  and 
his  army  came  over  the  hills  in  sight  of  Jerusalem,  they 
lifted  a  shout  that  made  the  earth  tremble.  The  vi- 
brations of  the  victorious  shouts  of  our  missionaries 
may  be  heard  in  the  land.  It  said  that  when  Sebastin 
Cabot  came  to  die  that  in  the  hour  of  his  death  his 
thoughts  wandered  to  the  sea.'  When  Noah  Flood  was 
dying  his  thoughts  turned  back  to  the  earth  and  he 
said:  *Oh,  this  cold  and  cheerless  world!'  But  it  was 
less  cold  and  less  cheerless  for  his  having  lived  in  it. 
It  should  quicken  our  steps  and  intensify  our  zeal  to 
think  that  those  men  of  God  who  have  gone  before, 
looked  back  upon  the  earth  with  a  look  that  said  if  they 
could  remain  they  would  cry  aloud  and  spare  not." 

It  was  not  to  have  been  expected  of  Dr.  Patrick  to 
even  so  much  as  name  all  of  the  many  missionaries  en- 
gaged by  the  General  Association  for  the  half  century 
preceding  the  meeting  of  1884.     And  time  and  space 


A  Jubilee.  ^99 

would  fail  this  book  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
work— the  conflicts  and  triumphs  of  this  army  ot  the 
Lord   but  as  all  significance  and  worth  of  the  General 
Association  are  to  be  found  in  the  work  of  its  missiona- 
ries it  would  be  an  unsatisfactory  and  unprofitable  ex- 
hibit of  the  great  '-jubilee"  at  Marshall,  if  no  general 
mention  of  the  servants  of  God  whose  faith  and  perse- 
verino-  labors  made  that  occasion  a  possibility  and  a 
success      It  is  a  source  of  regret  to  the  author  of  this 
book  that  insufficiencv  of  records  and  available  informa- 
tion must  make  this  work  less  a  monument  to  the  mis- 
sionaries than  he  would  be  pleased  to  make  it 

Mention  has  already  been  made  of  Fielding  Wil- 
hite  of  venerated  memory,  who  was  at  an  early  day  one 
of  the  missionaries  of  the  association.     No  better  de- 
scription of  his  missionary  labors  can  be  given  than  a 
quotation  from  one  of  his  reports  affords.     In  1844  he 
reports  to  the  board,  speaking  of  a  missionary  tour  into 
Saline,  LaFayette,  Ray,  Clay  and  Platte  counties,  he 
says-  "In  all  these  counties  I  found  fields  to  cultivate, 
but  few  efficient  men  to  cultivate  them.  *  *  *  I  trust 
the  attention  of  the  Association  will  be  turned  to  Platte 
county— indeed  to  the  zvhole  upper  Missouri.     In  all  i 
have  labored  about  sixty  days,  traveled  about  1,100 
miles  have  preached  about   forty   sermons,   delivered 
manv  exhortations,  baptized  thirty-seven  wilhng_  con- 
verts, constituted  one  church,  ordained  two  ministers 
and  four  deacons  and  visited  several  Sunday  Schools. 

"I  desire  to  mention  particularly  what  the  Lord  has 
done  for  us  at  a  campmeeting  with  the  Bethlehem 
church,  in  Boone  county,  continuing  eleven  days  and 
resulting  in  the  hopeful  conversion  of  about  eighty 
souls-sixty  were  received  for  baptism,  fifty-five  of 
whom  were  baptized  by  myself  and  brother  Carey. 

"The  Association  can  allow  me  what  it  pleases  for 
my  services,  and  receive  it  as  a  donation.     The  brethren 


200  A  Jubilee. 

amongst  whom  I  labored  were  not  indifferent  to  my 
temporal  interests  and  ministered'  to  my  necessities." 

The  missionary  of  to-day  will  ponder  Bro.  Wil- 
hite's  report.  His  home  was  in  Boone  county.  There 
were  no  railroads  in  those  days.  Horse  and  saddle  and 
saddle-bags  were  the  preacher's  equipment  for  travel. 
There  were  no  bridges  over  rivers  and  not  many  that 
spanned  the  creeks.  Look  at  a  map  of  Missouri,  and 
study  out  the  most  probable  route  for  this  i,ioo  miles 
of  horseback  travel.  Now  look  back  at  the  results  of 
the  work :  Seventy-one  days — ninety-two  baptisms,  one 
new^  church  constituted,  etc.  With  a  denser  popula- 
tion and  improved  facilities  for  travel,  what  ought  we 
to  do  now!  Are  we  improving?  Is  it  answered,  con- 
ditions have  changed?  Can  changing  conditions  ob- 
struct the  gospel  ? 

A.  F.  Martin — the  father  of  our  Lewis  Ely  Martin 
and  John  M.  Peck  Martin — often  the  companion  of 
Wilhite  in  missionary  tours  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
state,  was  for  years  one  of  the  best  missionaries  of  the 
General  Association.  In  the  first  decade  of  our  history 
he  too  was  one  of  the  Lord's  "rough  riders."  He  was 
a  deeply  pious  man,  an  unselfish  preacher.  He  sought 
not  his  own,  but  with  a  consuming  desire  for  the  salva- 
tion of  souls  and  seeking  to  magnify  the  name  of  Christ, 
he  went  forth  weeping  sowing  precious  seed. 

In  1844  he  reports  to  the  board :  Rode  1,100  miles 
and  spent  120  days.  Preached  seventy  times,  baptized 
twenty-six  persons,  organized  one  church,  ordained 
one  deacon — have  supplied  four  churches  during  part 
of  the  year.  It  would  be  interesting  to  write  a  full  his- 
tory of  the  missionary  labors  of  this  man  of  God,  and 
tell  of  the  meetings  he  held  and  the  baptisms  he  admin- 
istered.    But  time  fails  us. 

D.  R.  Murphy,  for  many  years,  and  with  intermis- 
sions down  from  the  early  'forties  to  within  a  short  time 
before  the  jubilee  meeting,  was  a  missionary  of  the  Gen- 


A  Jubilee.  201 

eral  Association.  He  labored  exclusively  in  the 
southwestern  counties  of  the  state.  The  anti-missionary 
Baptists  were  in  our  early  history,  in  the  lead  in  that 
part  of  the  state.  In  1844,  Bro.  IMurphy  writes  to  the 
executive  board :  "In  the  southwest  we  have  some  op- 
position, but  thank  the  Lord  the  missionary  cause  is 
gaining  ground,  as  darkness  flees  before  the  light." 

P.  M.  Haycraft,  this  man  of  God  from  one  of  the 
best  families  of  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  was  among 
the  early  missionaries  of  the  General  Association.  A 
little  eccentric  but  eminently  conscientious  and  conse- 
crated. A  preceding  chapter  gives  an  extract  from  one 
of  his  reports.  He  was  a  diligent  and  successful 
preacher.  His  field  was  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
state. 

W.  C.  Ligon  was  a  devout  man,  full  of  faith  and 
good  works.  His  name  is  inseparable  from  the  history 
of  the  General  Association.  As  a  missionary  of  the 
General  Association  and  financial  agent  of  the  William 
Jewell  College,  he  did  an  effective  and  enduring  work 
in  ^Missouri. 

Robert  James,  born  in  Kentucky  in  1818,  was  one 
of  the  most  efficient  missionaries  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation. In  1848,  he  reports  to  the  board,  for  one 
quarter  of  a  year's  service,  eighty-eight  sermons,  109 
exhortations,  499  miles  traveled,  and  136  baptisms. 
In  connection  with  Brother  Graves,  in  April,  of  1848. 
he  constituted  the  Providence  church,  in  Clay  county,  a 
few  miles  out  from  Liberty.  There  w'ere  forty-four 
constituent  members,  thirty-four  of  whom  Bro.  James 
baptized,  one  half  of  whom  were  heads  of  families. 

It  will  be  observed  that  Robert  James  was  only 
thirty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  this  remarkable  work. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  trustees  of  the  Wm.  Jewell 
College.  This  suffering,  patient  and  devout  man  of 
God,  has  long  since  gone  to  his  reward.     His  brother. 


202  A  Jubilee. 

T.  M.  James,  survives  him  and  is  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  beloved  men  in  the  General  Association. 

In  these  earlier  days,  the  brilliant  and  progressive — 
now  the  aged  sage  and  orator  and  writer,  Samuel  How- 
ard Ford,  bore  a  commission  from  the  General  Associ- 
ation as  missionary  pastor  in  St.  Louis. 

It  would  be  a  delight  to  gaze  separately  upon  the 
individual  members  of  that  galaxy  that  shine  as  stars 
in  the  firmament — Thornton  Rucker,  E.  Stringer,  T. 
W.  Anderson,  J.  S.  Smith,  Norman  Parks,  James  D. 
Wilson,  I.  T.  Williams,  Franklin  Graves,  Walter  Mc- 
Quie,  Eber  Tuckner,  Elias  George,  W.  W.  Keep,  Ed- 
ward Roth,  John  H.  Keach,  R.  C.  Hill,  A.  T.  Hite,  J.F. 
(Uncle  Frank)  Smith.  Orin  Jones,  W.  H.  Farmer, 
Jeremiah  Farmer,  T.C.  Harris  (heretofore  mentioned), 
Wm.  H.  Vardeman,  W.  F.  Nelson  and  a  multitude  of 
others. 

But  we  must  come  down  to  those  whose  labors 
after  i878  contributed  so  largely  to  the  deliverance  of 
the  General  Association  from  "chaos."  Now  we  have 
the  meek  V.  T.  Settle;  the  veteran  missionary,  W.  C. 
Barrett;  the  persevering  J.  C.  Shipp;  the  cultured  and 
modest  C.  N.  Wester;  the  resourceful  M.  L.  Bibb;  the 
spiritually  minded  and  purposeful  evangelist  G.  A. 
Crouch ;  the  theological  Titon  R.  H.  Harris  ;  the  indom- 
itable worker  J.  S.  Buckner;  the  gentle  spirited  and 
talented  Irvine  F.  Davis;  the  heroic  A.  J.  Latour;  the 
faithful  J.  D.  Crabtree ;  the  scholar  and  educator  W.  A. 
Wilson;  the  courteous  and  courageous  W.  E.  Cham- 
bliss;  the  masterful  E.  S.  Dulin;  the  silent  and  strong 
Paul  McCollum ;  the  genial  and  generous  J.  D.  Biggs ; 
the  vigorous  S.  M.  Victor;  the  venerable  Jehu  Robin- 
son; the  solid  thinker  B.  McCord  Roberts;  the  willing 
and  effective  worker  W.  T.  Campbell ;  the  self-sacrific- 
ing A.  J.  Hess ;  the  common  sense  and  big  hearted  A. 
M.    Cockrill;    the    industrious    and    ready    I.    R.    M. 


A  Jubilee.  203 

Buson,  and  a  score  or  more  equally  worthy  of  honor- 
able mention. 

Besides  there  were  the  able  and  efficient  aids  to  the 
corresponding  secretary,  Drs.  G.W.  Hyde,  L.  M.  Berry, 
T.  M.  S.  Kenney  and  T.  A.  Bowman.  All  of  these 
have  done  a  work  but  for  which  the  reasons  for  rejoic- 
ing and  the  grounds  of  encouragement  would  not  have 
inspired  the  cheer  and  enthusiasm  of  the  semi-centen- 
nial meeting. 

The  next  semi-centennial  exercise  was  a  sermon 
by  W.  Pope  Yeaman  on  the  "Spirit  and  Scope  of  State 
Missions."  Text :  "Ye  shall  be  my  witnesses  both  in 
Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto 
the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth."  This  sermon  is 
printed  in  full  in  the  semi-centennial  memorial  volume. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  sermon  a  collection  amounting 
to  $1,400  was  taken  for  state  missions. 

On  Thursday  evening  Rev.  Dr.  John  T.  Williams 
delivered  an  eloquent  address  on  the  "Origin  and  Prog- 
ress of  the  General  Association."  This  production  of 
the  lamented  Williams,  who  so  long  and  so  faithfully 
served  as  recording  secretary  of  the  Association,  is 
worthy  of  the  brilliant  and  scholarly  preacher  who  de- 
livered it.  The  address  is  such  a  compact  resume  of 
the  fifty  years'  history  of  the  Association  that  it  can  not 
be  taken  to  pieces  without  marring  its  rare  excellency 
and  beauty.  It,  with  other  memorial  addresses,  may  be 
found  in  the  volume  already  mentioned. 

On  Friday  evening  an  address  was  delivered  by 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  C.  Armstrong  on  "Educational  Institu- 
tions," and  one  by  Dr.  W.  R.  Rothwell  on  "Ministerial 
Education."  These  two  addresses  are  more  particu- 
larly used  in  the  chapters  on  "Education." 

The  address  of  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford  on  "Some  Changes 
in  Fifty  Years"  was — as  the  thousands  who  have  in  the 
years,  listened  to  the  rare  oratory  of  this  venerable 
preacher  will  know  without  the  saying  in  this  place— 


204  A  Jubilee. 

a  most  entertaining,  instructive  and  thrilling  discourse. 
The  physical  and  social  conditions  in  Missouri  in  the 
long  by  gone,  the  religious  life  and  church  facilities, 
the  preachers  and  their  modes  of  life  and  manner  of 
preaching,  all  were  so  vividly  portrayed  that  the  listener 
felt  himself  living,  for  the  time  being,  in  another  land 
and  among  another  people.  The  whole  was  inter- 
spersed with  reminiscences  pathetic  and  amusing.  The 
address  was  unwritten,  but  afterward  reduced  to  writ- 
ing for  the  semi-centennial  volume. 

An  original  poem  entitled  "Our  Jubilee,"  from  the 
pen  of  Airs.  Sarah  E.  Dodge,  was  read,  much  to  the  en- 
tertainment and  inspiration  of  the  occasion.  This  poem 
of  over  four  hundred  lines  is  more  than  our  space  ad- 
mits for  reproduction  in  full.  The  few  excerpts  given 
below  are  sufficient  to  suggest  the  spirit,  adaptation  and 
merit  of  the  poem. 

''Marshall  your  hosts,  oh  jubilee! 

Champions  of  peace,  prepare ! 
Missouri's  trump  sounds  long  and  loud. 

Ye  tribes,  oh  gather  near ! 
Fling  wide  your  portals,  gates  of  praise. 

Redeeming  love  repeat; 
Let  angel  voices  catch  the  strain. 

Reverberations  greet ! 
Our  jubilee  an  epoch  crowns, 

And  as  we  joyful  meet, 
Let  retrospection  backward  turn, 

Our  mercies  past,  repeat. 
Full  half  a  century  can  claim 

Allegiance,  loyal,  true. 
And  we  would  pause  along  the  line. 

The  serried  ranks  review. 

*  *  *  >!:  ;J;  *  *  * 

"Once  more  in  council  brothers  meet. 
The  roll  is  called  in  vain 


A  Jubilee.  205 

For  those  who  sleep  beneath  the  tomb — 

Who  answer  not  again  ! 
How  tender  memories  thronging  press ! 

Bring  back  the  past — the  hour, 
When  watchmen  once  on  Zion's  walls, 

Proclaimed  the  truth  in  power ! 
Here  memory  gives  her  angel  charge, 

To  guard  her  treasures  well, 
Of  cherished  words,  of  hopes  and  prayers, 

The  faithful  sentinel ! 
Missouri  feels  once  more  the  grief. 

That  rends  her  heart  oppressed. 

"How  are  the  mighty  fallen,  lo ! 

Appalled  she  weeps  in  dread ; 
The  men  who  shaped  her  destiny, 

Her  valiant  sons  are  dead. 

*  *  *  *  ;[:  *  *  :f: 

"Sleep,  sweetly  sleep,  dear  blessed  ones, 

Repose  at  last  and  rest; 
The  hands  that  held  our  standard  high. 

Crossed  on  the  quiet  breast ! 
As  clarions  loud  your  voices  rang, 

Proclaimed  the  refuge  free — 
And  far  the  tidings  spread 

Of  truth  and  liberty. 
On  earth,  redeeming  love  and  grace, 

The  burden  of  your  song; 
In  loftier  courts  now  sing  the  praise 

Of  Him  you  worshiped  long." 

^Irs.  Dodge  is  the  only  remaining  daughter  of  the 
venerable  and  much  honored  Rev.  Dr.  Adiel  Sherwood, 
and  sister  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Sherwood,  for  thirty 
years  a  member  and  for  years  chief  justice,  of  the 
supreme  court  of  Missouri.  Dr.  Sherwood  was  a 
devoted  and  influential   friend  of  the  Missouri   Bap- 


2o6  A  Jubilee. 

tist  General  Association,  which,  in  his  life  time,  honored 
him  with  a  handsome  souvenir.  At  a  green  old  age, 
after  actually  and  actively  spending  sixty-nine  years  in 
the  gospel  ministry,  this  man,"full  of  the  Holy  Ghost," 
serenely  died  at  his  home  in  St.  Louis.  The  writer  was 
with  him  in  his  last  hour  on  earth,  and  the  chamber  of 
death  seemed  unearthly.  The  radiance  of  the  dying 
saint's  countenance  beamed  with  celestial  joy,  as  though 
the  thousands  he  had  led  to  the  christ,  and  had  gone 
before  him  to  the  promised  land,  were  welcoming  him 
to  the  Lamb  of  God  forever. 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  C.  Maple  presented  a  paper — biograph- 
ical— on  the  moderators  of  the  General  Association; 
and  Rev.  Dr.  G.  W.  Hyde  on  the  corresponding  secre- 
taries and  recording  secretaries.  These  interesting 
papers  bring  the  writer  of  this  volume  under  obliga- 
tions— they  may  be  read  in  the  semi-centennial  memo- 
rial volume. 

Tracing  the  history  of  the  General  Association 
from  the  handful  of  Godly  men  and  women  assembled 
in  a  church  house  away  from  the  centers  of  influence, 
in  a  rural  district,  reached,  not  by  palace  cars  or  elegant 
coaches  gliding  on  steel  rails,  but  by  saddle,  and  wagon 
and  gig  and  barouche,  for  consultation,  with  prayer  for 
divine  direction  as  to  methods  and  means  for  supplying 
the  light  of  divine  truth  and  theway  of  salvation,  to  re- 
gions in  their  own  state,  destitute  of  this  blessing;  and 
knowing  that  they  were  assailed  by  bitter  opposition 
from  sources  whence  should  come  sympathy  and  coop- 
eration ;  heroically  resolving  to  go  forward  in  the  name 
of  an  unseen  leader,  and  in  the  progress  of  the  holy 
crusade  to  find  themselves  while  in  the  midst  of  pros- 
perity interrupted  and  scattered  by  the  relentless  rav- 
ages of  civil  war;  and  then  to  be  thrown  into  "chaos" 
by  internal  vicissitudes,  and  then  later  to  be  confronted 
by  a  "crisis"  that  threatened  disintegration  or  dissolu- 
tion, and  yet  to  emerge  from  these  untoward  conditions 


A  Jubilee.  207 

into  a  prosperity  that  made  the  organization  the  equal 
of  any  other  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States,  is  it  not  a 
most  natural  and  religous  impulse  that  at  the  coming  of 
the  fiftieth  anniversary,  the  successors  of  the  founders 
should  celebrate  as  a  jubilee  the  trials  and  triumphs  of 
the  work  to  which  their  fathers  and  themselves  had 
given  their  hearts  ? 

Many  who  were  at  the  Marshall  jubilee  have  gone 
to  the  General  Assembly  and  church  of  the  First  Born. 
Of  these  the  writer  recalls  the  following  devoted  serv- 
ants— now  heavenly  saints — of  the  Lord,  who  con- 
tributed by  their  presence  and  counsel  and  fellowship  to 
the  joy  and  the  success  of  the  meeting.  Without  pausing 
for  a  tribute  to  each  of  the  departed  worthies,  let  us 
think  of  them  as  a  group  of  witnesses  deeply  interested 
in  the  work  and  workers  left  in  the  church  militant : 
Hon.  John  B.  Wornall,  ex-moderator;  L.  B.  Ely,  ex- 
moderator;  Ex-Gov.  Charles  H.  Hardin,  ex-assistant 
moderator;  John  T.  Williams,  D.  D.,  secretary;  S.  W. 
Marston,  D.  D.,  ex-corresponding  secretary;  Joel 
Guthrie,  secretary  executive  board ;  John  Gordon,  mem- 
ber of  board ;  Rev.  C.  L.  Butts,  former  missionary ;  W. 

C.  Barrett,  former  missionary;  Rev.  T.  W.  Barrett, 
member  of  board  and  president  of  Stephens  College; 
Jeremiah  B.  Vardeman,  only  surviving  male  member 
of  original  meeting;  Rev.  J.  B.  Hardwicke;  Rev.  E. 
Roth,  former  missionary;  Leland  Wright,  the  second 
to  hold  the  office  of  corresponding  secretary;  Deacon 

D.  G.  Hancock;  W.  P.  Crosswhite,  a  munificent  con- 
tributor to  state  missions;  Cap.  James  F.  Finks;  Rev. 
Israel  Christie,  moderator  Mt.  Moriah  Association;  W. 
H.  Williams,  D.  D.,  editor  Central  Baptist;  B.  G. 
Payne,  an  early  and  fast  friend  of  the  Association ;  Rev. 
J.  Pearce;  Rev.  J.  F.  Smith,  who  made  the  opening 
prayer  of  the  jubilee  meeting;  Frank  Ely,  patron  of  the 
Baptist  Sanitarium;  Garrett  W.  Morehead,  ex-moder- 
ator Mt.  Zion  Association:  A.  W.  Chambliss,  D.  D., 


2oS  A  Jubilee. 

the  venerable  theologian;  Rev.  W.  E.  Chambliss,  the 
sweet  spirited  former  missionary;  E.  S.  Dulin,  D.  D., 
college  president  and  former  missionary;  W.  B.  Glover, 
M.  D.,  a  friend  to  missions;  Rev.  J.  W.  Swift,  former 
missionary;  Henry  Talbird,  D.  D.,  for  ten  years  presi- 
dent Alabama  Baptist  State  Convention;  A.  Machett, 
D.  D.,  the  angelic  preacher;  E.  D.  Isbell,  D.  D.,  a 
preacher  of  an  introductory  sermon  to  the  General  As- 
sociation; Rev.  A.  F.  Martin,  a  pioneer  missionary; 
Prof.  J.  R.  Eaton,  Ph.  D.,  scientist  and  educator;  Rev. 
J.  L.  Tichenor,  the  beloved  pastor;  Rev.  Wm.  Harris, 
a  preacher  of  an  introductory  sermon ;  Rev.  V.  T.  Set- 
tle, former  missionary;  W.  M.  Johnson;  J.  M.  Shock, 
M.  D. ;  Rev.  R.  J.  Mansfield,  a  veteran  missionary ;  S. 
S.  Nowlin,  lawyer  of  Montgomery. 

A  number  of  women,  lovers  of  every  Baptist  enter- 
prise, who  were  present  as  messengers  to  the  semi- 
centennial meeting,  have  been  called  to  the  final  rewards 
of  the  righteous:  Mrs.  B.  G.  Tutt,  wife  of  Dr.  Tutt, 
who  delivered  the  response  to  the  address  of  welcome; 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Pendleton,  mother  of  Mrs.  J.  C.  Arm- 
strong; Mrs.  Wm.  Turner,  granddaughter  of  Urial 
Sebree,  one  of  the  early  moderators  of  General  As- 
sociation; Miss  Katie  O'Bryan,  of  a  family  connected 
with  pioneer  work  of  the  Association;  Mrs.  Henry 
Talbird,  wife  of  Dr.  Talbird;  Mrs.  E.  S.  Dulin,  wife  of 
Dr.  Dulin,  an  accomplished  servant  of  the  Master ;  Mrs. 
A.  W.  Chambliss,  wife  of  Dr.  Chambliss;  Miss  Maggie 
Herndon. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  others  who  swelled  the 
throng  at  Marshall  have  gone  to  the  rest  that  remaineth 
to  the  people  of  God,  but  the  memory  of  the  writer  re- 
calls no  others  at  this  (1898)  date,  and  having  no  list 
of  the  departed,  he  writes  from  his  own  memory. 

This  brief  sketch  of  one  of  the  most  profitable  and 
spiritual  general  meetings  of  Baptists  in  Missouri,  is 
written  with  the  consciousness  that  the  subject  is  of 


A  Jubilee.  209 

greater  interest  to  the  progressive  element  of  the  de- 
nomination in  the  state  than  has  been  made  manifest  by 
the  preceding  pages.  The  effect  of  that  meeting  was  a 
fresh  impulse  to  the  General  Association,  which  is  felt 
at  this  day.  The  meeting  was  a  mighty  uplift  to  the 
work  of  christian  progress  in  all  the  departments  fos- 
tered and  promoted  by  the  state  organization  of  a  great 
and  generous  denomination  of  christians  who  earnestly 
contend  for  the  faith  delivered  to  the  saints  of  old. 


H 


CHAPTER  XII. 

POST  JUBILEE  PERIOD. 

From  1884  to  1898  is  a  period  of  varying  success 
in  state  mission  work,  but  not  an  unsuccessful  period, 
by  any  means.  Taken  altogether  there  has  been  an  en- 
couraging work,  and  the  spirit  of  revival  of  interest  in 
the  General  Association  has  been  sustained. 

In  all  history  there  are  some  facts  which  some 
people  would  rather  were  unwritten,  and  some  that  the 
historian  reluctantly  writes.  But  the  duty  of  history  is 
fidelity  to  truth. 

The  corresponding  secretary  who  served  from 
i878  to  1886,  which  period  included  the  "crisis"  and 
the  "jubilee,"  was  in  1886  petitioned  by  more  than  a 
thousand  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  county  of  his  resi- 
dence to  consent  to  stand  for  nomination  as  candidate 
for  the  congress  of  the  United  States.  At  the  advice 
of  certain  brethren  and  many  friends  out  of  the  Bap- 
tist denomination,  after  much  hesitation  and  delay  he 
consented  to  the  desired  use  of  his  name.  He  devoted 
in  all  one  month  of  his  time  to  a  canvass  in  the  interest 
of  his  candidacy,  in  the  meanwhile  conducting  an  act- 
ive correspondence  in  the  interest  of  state  missions. 
He  compassed  but  a  small  part  of  the  congressional 
district,  and  received  the  vote  of  the  delegation  of  every 
locality  visited  by  him,  and  made  a  very  narrow  escape 
from  congressional  fetters. 

Notwithstanding  the  collections  for  state  missions 
for  the  month  devoted  to  politics  were  more  than  four 
hundred  dollars  in  excess  of  the  corresponding  month 
of  the  preceding  year,  certain  brethren  felt  that  the  cor- 
responding secretary  had  erred  in  entering  the  political 

210 


Post  Jubilee  Period. 


21  I 


arena  and  that  the  office  of  corresponcHng  secretary 
ought  to  be  vacated,  and  by  a  bare  majority  in  the  board 
the  office  was  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  associa- 
tional  year.  At  the  same  time  the  corresponding  sec- 
retary was— and  had  been  for  years— the  moderator  of 
the  General  Association.  A  vigorous  effort  was  made 
to  displace  him  from  that  office.  He  expected  to  be 
displaced.  The  most  distinguished  layman,  and  one  of 
the  best  men  in  the  denomination  in  the  state  was  the 
candidate  of  the  opposition.  But  as  the  General  Asso- 
ciation was  a  much  larger  body  than  its  board,  the  vote 
resulted  in  the  re-election  of  the  moderator. 

The  corresponding  secretary  might  have  been  suc- 
cessful in  the  political  episode  if  he  had  been  willing  to 
resort  to  means  of  election  as  reprehensible  as  some 
used  to  compass  his  displacement  as  corresponding  sec- 
retary. He  had,  as  eminent  and  trustworthy  citizens 
knew,  the  nomination  at  his  command,  but  refused  to 
conform  to  the  conditions  demanded.  The  convention 
adjourned  without  making  a  nomination  and  referred 
the  issue  to  a  district  primary  election.  The  secretary 
retired  from  the  contest  feeling  that  his  first  duty  was 
to  the  state  mission  work  of  the  General  Association. 

It  may  be  wrong  for  a  preacher  to  engage  in  poli- 
tics. The  conviction  in  the  minds  of  some  preachers  is 
a  dissent  from  this  idea.  Dr.  James  Manning,  who 
made  Rhode  Island  College  an  established  fact,  and  who 
with  Isaac  Backus,  fought  before  the  committee  of  the 
continental  congress  for  religious  liberty,  was  one  of 
the  ablest,  most  religiously  influential  and  scholarly 
Baptist  preachers  of  the  last  century,  was  himself  se- 
lected by  the  Rhode  Island  legislature  to  represent  that 
colony  in  the  continental  congress  of  i786.  Noah  Al- 
den,  a  pastor  of  a  Baptist  church  in  Massachusetts,  and 
while  pastor  was  a  member  of  the  convention  that 
framed  the  constitution  of  that  state  in  i78o.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  con- 


2  12  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

stitiition  of  the  United  States.  Governor  Garrard,  one 
of  the  early  and  ablest  governors  of  Kentucky,  was  a 
Baptist  preacher.  Thomas  Chilton  (called  Tom  Shel- 
ton)  often  represented  in  congress  the  district  in  which 
this  writer  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  during  his  whole 
political  career  was  one  of  the  most  popular  Baptist 
preachers  in  the  state.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  the 
present  United  States  Senator  Chilton,  of  Texas.  The 
renowned  John  L.  Waller,  than  whom  the  Kentucky 
Baptists  never  boasted  a  greater  preacher  or  writer,  was 
a  member  from  Woodford  county  of  the  constitutional 
convention  of  1848,  and  was  reckoned  one  of  the  ablest 
members  of  that  ablest  body  of  law  makers  ever  assem- 
bled in  Kentucky.  Ex-Governor  Eagle,  of  Arkansas, 
made  a  record  second  to  no  governor  the  state  has  ever 
had.  He  did  not  bring  reproach  to  the  Baptist  ministry 
nor  upon  Christianity.  He  is  now  and  has  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  been  the  honored  and  beloved  moderator  of 
the  Arkansas  Baptist  General  Association;  and  has  lost 
none  of  his  influence  as  a  Baptist  preacher.  Many 
other  equally  forcible  illustrations  might  be  given  from 
Baptist  history,  but  it  would  be  an  unprofitable  use  of 
time  and  labor. 

It  is  admitted  by  all  intelligent  persons  that  civil 
government  is  a  necessity  of  civilized  society,  and  that 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  citizen  to  do  his  part  in  every 
legitimate  way  to  promote  the  highest  interest  of  the 
state.  Politics  is  the  science  of  civil  government,  and 
unless  government  is  wrong,  participation  in  the  affairs 
of  state  is  not  wrong. 

Nevertheless,  the  writer  of  these  pages,  after  a 
long,  varied  and  somewhat  active  experience,  feels  pre- 
pared to  say  to  the  ministry  of  the  gospel,  who  before 
many  years  at  most  he  must  leave — don't  seek  political 
preferment.  It  is  not  incompatible  with  your  calling 
to  make  laws  nor  to  administer  them  if  you  are  called 
on  to  do  so.     But  as  a  rule  your  brethren  would  prefer 


Post  Jubilee  Period.  2  1 3 

tbat  you  have  no  part  in  politics.  You  can  afford  io 
make  the  sacrifice  for  their  sakes.  The  objections  that 
your  brethren  make  to  their  preachers  taking  promi- 
nence in  poHtics  are  several  fold  :  ( i )  You  must  be  a 
partisan.  Political  parties  seem  to  be  a  necessity  of 
human  nature,  and  with  many  men  in  the  churches  par- 
tisan prejudices  are  more  influential  than  religious  con- 
victions. The  members  of  the  party  opposed  to  your 
party,  will  oppose  themselves  to  you  if  you  become  in 
anywise  a  partisan  champion.  This  is  a  weakness  of 
human  nature  to  which  the  minister  of  the  gospel  will 
have  to  submit  for  the  sake  of  the  greater  cause.  (2) 
Your  brethren,  some  of  them,  will  suspect  the  ardor  of 
your  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  Great  Master.  This 
is  because  they  do  not  yet  see  the  relation  of  righteous- 
ness to  good  government  and  the  exaltation  of  a  nation. 
(3)  There  is  in  practical  politics  as  it  obtains  to-day 
a  world  of  abomination,  a  multitude  of  evils.  Corrup- 
tion of  every  sort — lying,  dissimilation,  insincerity, 
intrigue,  bribery  and  all  manner  of  pandering  to  the 
wicked  passions  and  vicious  appetites  of  political 
"workers"  and  voters;  and  an  amazing  corruption  of 
office. 

One  can  make  a  political  campaign  without  any 
of  these  vices,  and  it  is  the  comfort  and  satisfaction  of 
some  that  they  have  done  so,  but  as  a  rule  such  men  are 
accorded  the  blessed  privilege  of  "staying  at  home."  It 
is  not  the  contention  here  that  all  men  in  political  places 
are  corrupt  or  that  they  reached  their  place  by  corrupt 
methods,  but  that  such  conditions  as  are  here  described 
are  the  characteristic  features  of  politics.  All  men  in 
politics  who  have  succeeded  without  corrupt  methods 
will  certify  to  the  truth  of  this  general  statement. 

For  these  reasons  and  for  the  peace  and  tran- 
quillity of  the  preacher's  mind,  let  him  forego  aspira- 
tions and  gently  deny  the  overtures  of  friends.  He 
might  be  the  instrument  of  great  good  to  the  common- 


214  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

wealth,  by  his  learning  and  purity  of  motive  and  con- 
stancy of  endeavor,  but,  except  in  rare  cases,  the  loss  in 
other  directions  might  overbalance  the  gain.  Then  let 
an  old  preacher  who  has  long  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
his  brethren  and  the  honors  they  could  confer,  admonish 
all  young  preachers — while  they  seek  to  understand  the 
philosophy  and  history  of  government  and  to  be  intelli- 
gent and  good  citizens — eschew  active  politics.  If  the 
government  goes  to  the  bad  without  you,  it  might  go 
there  with  you.  In  such  an  event  the  outs  are  better  ofif 
than  the  ins. 

The  vacancy  occasioned  in  the  office  of  correspond- 
ing secretary  by  the  act  of  displacement  already  men- 
tioned was  temporarily  filled  by  the  appointment  of 
Ex-Gov.  C.  H.  Hardin.  He  conducted  the  correspond- 
ence and  had  general  oversight  of  the  work  for  one 
month,  doing  his  work  with  that  order  and  system  so 
eminently  characteristic  of  the  man.  The  work  lost 
nothing  by  the  temporary  suspension  of  active  field  ef- 
fort. He  was  followed  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Armstrong  for  one 
month. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  state  missions  in  the 
month  of  December,  1886,  Rev.  S.  M.  Brown  was 
elected  corresponding  secretary.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  the  work  with  that  energy  and  zeal  that  has  dis- 
tinguished his  ministry  in  this  state  for  (now)  full 
twenty  years.  He  is  a  preacher  of  extraordinary 
power  and  with  a  popularity  to  be  almost  envied.  He 
brought  to  his  ofiice  work  all  the  resources  of  speech 
and  pen,  and  created  for  himself  and  his  work  a  most 
favorable  impression  upon  the  great  body  of  Baptists 
in  the  state.  His  earnest  sermons — always  listened  to 
by  large  crowds,  his  fervent  appeals  for  the  missiona- 
ries, his  touching  and  entertaining  anecdotes,  his  solo 
presentation  of  his  own  original  songs — sang  by  him 
with  great  effect — called  forth  liberal  contributions  and 
made   for  him   hosts   of   friends.     His   success   in  the 


Post  Jubilee  Period.  215 

financial  w  ork  of  state  missions,  anil  his  popularity  as  a 
preacher  brought  to  him  great  influence  in  the  councils 
of  the  denomination.  How  he  has  endured  such  a  vol- 
ume of  work  as  he  has  performed  is  an  amazement  to 
his  friends,  who  have  all  along  suffered  apprehension 
that  his  seeming  physical  vitality  w^as  not  equal  to  such 
herculean  performances.  But  he  enjoys  a  firm  con- 
viction that  the  Infinite  Father  has  been  his  help,  his 
strength  and  his  stay. 

Bro.  Brown  continued  by  annual  re-elections  to  fill 
the  office  of  corresponding  secretary  until  October, 
1889. 

The  following  summary  of  state  mission  work  for 
these  years  will  exhibit  the  efficiency  of  his  labors : 

For  the  year  ending  October  10,  i887  : 

General  missionaries 42 

Local  missionaries 5 

Churches  aided 26 

Sermons  preached 3.246 

Baptisms 646 

Total  collections  for  the  year  (including  in- 
terest on  endowments  and  gifts   from 

Womans'  Society) $12,046  18 

Amount  expended $9,668  48 

For  the  year  ending  October,  1888 : 

General  missionaries 4 

Local  missionaries 13 

Churches  aided 41 

Sermons  preached 4,846 

Baptisms 1,116 

Total  collections  for  the  year,  including 
balance  from  preceding  year  $1,508.20 
and  S.  S.  collections  by  Boyer  $1,051.20 

and  interest  on  endowment $15,519  5? 

Amount  expended $13,886  02 

For  the  year  ending  October,  18^89: 

Total  number  missionaries 58 

Number  of  churches  aided 37 


2i6  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

Number  sermons  preached 4*258 

Number  of  baptisms 1,148 

Total  collections  (including  as  above) $16,56?  43 

Expended    $16,490  41 

For  the  year  ending  October,  1890 : 

At  the  meeting  in  October,  1889,  Rev.  S.  M,  Brown 
declined  re-election  to  the  secretaryship.  The  board  in 
its  report  for  1890  says:  "Rev.  S.  M.  Brown  was  re- 
elected corresponding  secretary,  but  after  one  month's 
consideration  of  the  matter  decided  that  it  was  his  duty 
to  retire  from  a  work  which  had  begun  to  impair  his 
strength.  His  decision  seemed  to  be  a  calamity  to  the 
work  of  the  board.  His  faithful  services  and  his  phe- 
nomenal success  in  raising  money  and  in  stimulating  a 
wide  interest  in  all  our  denominational  enterprises, 
seemed  to  make  him  a  necessity  to  continued  prosperity 
in  state  missions." 

After  a  delay  until  November  18,  1889,  Rev.  J.  C. 
Armstrong  was  elected  corresponding  secretary  to  do 
office  work  only. 

General  agents  w^ere  appointed  for  the  field,  these 
were  John  T.  Daniel,  Esq.,  of  Maryville,  and  Rev.  Dr. 
A.  F.  Baker.  The  report  for  the  year  ending  October, 
1890,  shows: 

Missionaries  and  agents 58 

Churches  aided 42 

Sermons  preached 6,318 

Baptisms 9°^ 

Money  collected  for  current  use $14,740  72 

Money  expended  by  the  board $14,812  72 

When  it  is  considered  that  for  the  year  above  tab- 
ulated, there  w^as  no  field  work  by  the  corresponding 
secretary,  the  results,  though  unsatisfactory  to  the 
board,  were  more  encouraging  than  otherwise.  An 
office  corresponding  secretary,  with  competent  agents 
who  at  the  same  time  aid  the  work  of  evangelists  ought 
now  to  meet  all  the  demands  of  state  mission  work,  and 
would  if  pastors  could  be  induced  to  take  such  active 


Post  Jubilee  Period.  217 

interest  in  state  missions  as  the  nature  of  the  work  and 
their  duty  suggest. 

At  the  October  meeting,  1890,  of  the  state  mission 
board,  "Rev.  S.  M.  Brown  was  employed  at  a  nominal 
salary  to  do  the  office  work  of  corresponding  secretary, 
and  to  take  a  general  oversight  of  the  work.  Rev.  Dr.  A. 
F.  Baker  was  continued  as  general  missionary  and  col- 
lector for  that  portion  of  the  state  lying  south  of  the 
Missouri  river,  and  Rev.  Dr.  A.  C.  RafTerty  was  called 
to  a  similar  work  in  that  part  of  the  state  lying  north  of 
the  river." 

The  report  of  the  board  for  the  year  ending  Octo- 
ber, 1 89 1,  shows: 

Whole  number  of  missionaries 55 

Whole  number  Sunday  School  missionaries 2 

Churches  aided 42 

Sermons  preached 4o'''9 

Baptisms 916 

Collections,  all  sources,  for  state  missions.  .$13,049  80 
Expenditures $11,865  5° 

At  the  October  meeting  of  the  board  for  1891,  Rev, 
S.  AI.  Brown  was  re-elected  corresponding  secretary. 
The  board's  report  for  the  year  ending  October,  1892, 
shows : 

Missionaries    employed 5~ 

Churches  aided 50 

Sermons  preached 5'39i 

Baptisms 1,1 72 

Collections  for  state  missions $13,687  69 

Expenditures  for  state  missions $13,042  84 

Bro.  Brown,  at  the  expiration  of  the  associational 
year  last  named,  finally  retired  from  secretarial  work, 
and  devoted  himself  to  a  mission  which  he  had  founded 
in  Kansas  City,  and  continued  his  labors  with  that  in- 
terest until  it  became  a  flourishing  and  self-sustaining 
church.  He  then  in  1896,  resigned  that  pastorate  to 
devote  his  energies  and  talent  to  editorial  work  on  the 
Word  and  Way,  a  Baptist  journal  founded  by  him  and 
Rev.  R.  K.  Maiden,  D.  D. 


2iS  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

Secretary  Brown  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  T. 
Campbell,  October,  1892.  This  brother  beloved  has 
from  his  youth  been  a  conscientious,  consecrated  laborer 
in  his  Master's  vineyard.  P'rom  the  beginning  of  his 
ministry,  after  leaving  the  William  Jewell  College,  he 
has  been  a  faithful  and  useful  friend  of  the  General 
Association.  F"rom  his  youth  up  he  has  served  on  im- 
portant committees  raised  to  facilitate  the  work  of  the 
Association,  and  has  on  all  such  occasions  shown  him- 
self a  faithful  and  competent  worker. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  joint  action  of  the  board 
of  the  General  Association  and  the  board  of  Blue  River 
district  association,  he  founded  the  Olive  Street  mission 
in  Kansas  City,  which  under  his  almost  superhuman 
energies,  became  a  strong  and  flourishing  church,  with 
valuable  property  in  a  most  important  and  flourishing 
part  of  the  wonderful  city,  and  established  as  Olive 
Street  Baptist  church.  Bro.  Campbell  served  five  years 
as  corresponding  secretary.  The  results  of  his  labors 
are  the  best  commentary  on  his  adaptation  to  the  office. 
During  his  term  of  office  the  state  of  Missouri  in  com- 
mon with  the  whole  country  passed  through  the  darkest 
and  most  depressing  period  of  financial  embarrassment 
since  the  crisis  of  1873.  Nevertheless  Secretary  Camp- 
bell kept  the  work  of  state  missions  above  the  crash  that 
came  to  many  secular  enterprises  that  seemed  prosper- 
ous and  on  safe  foundations. 

The  following  table  of  results  for  the  five  years  of 
his  work  indicates  that  he  was  neither  idle  nor  overcome 
by  adverse  conditions.  His  uniform  urbanity  as  a 
christian  gentleman,  his  generous  soul  ever  looking  out 
through  a  radiant  face;  his  big  heart  ever  palpitating 
in  genuine  fellowship  for  his  brethren;  his  warm  and 
earnest  gospel  sermons,  and  his  pathetic  appeals  for  the 
destitute  fields  and  the  missionaries  contributed  to  the 
making  of  his  very  satisfactory  record  : 


Post  Jubilee  Period.  319 

During-  these  live  years  the  record  shows  that  there 
were  300  missionaries  engaged ;  these  with  the  cor- 
responding secretary,  preached  34,452  sermons,  bap- 
tized 6,T86  converts,  aided  235  churches,  raised  $56,- 
939.59  for  state  missions  and  expended  $63,604.63. 
Leaving-  a  deficit  of  $6,665.04  to  be  suppHed  by  bor- 
rowed money  and  accrued  interest  from  endowment 
fund :  as  has  frequently  been  the  case  prior  to  Bro. 
Campbell's  secretaryship. 

It  is  worthy  of  special  note  that  more  persons  were 
baptized  by  the  missionaries  of  the  General  Association 
during  Secretary  Campbell's  administration,  than  dur- 
ing any  other  five  years'  period  in  the  history  of  that 
organization. 

After  the  resignation  of  W.  T.  Campbell,  Rev.  T. 
L.  West,  pastor  at  Carrollton,  was  called  to  the  cor- 
responding secretaryship  in  October,  1897.  He  will 
not  have  completed  two  years'  work  before  these  pages 
are  in  print.  Considering  that  his  first  year  was  the 
time  of  the  Franco- American  war,  and  that  the  whole 
country  w^as  in  a  state  of  excited  and  anxious  suspense, 
the  results  of  his  work  deserve,  as  they  have  received, 
the  hearty  and  emphatic  indorsement  of  the  board  and 
the  Association. 

The  ability  of  Bro.  West  as  a  preacher,  the  confi- 
dence he  has  made  to  himself  from  his  brethren,  and 
the  reception  he  has  received  in  all  parts  of  the  state 
give  guarantee  of  a  future  brilliant  work  as  secretary. 
The  following  is  a  table  of  the  first  and  only  com- 
pleted year's  worlc  by  Secretary  West : 

^Missionaries    employed 5- 

Churches   aided 35 

Sermons   preached 7,io7 

Baptisms    r  .098 

Amount  raised  for  state  missions  and  Sun- 
day Schools. including  balance  from  pre- 
ceding vear  and  monev  borrowed  during 

the  year .' $12,297  45 

Total  expenses  of  the  year $12,297  45 


220  Post  Jubilee  Period. 

The  year's  work  was  such  as  to  greatly  encourage 
the  General  Association,  and  enlarge  hope  for  the 
future. 

Associated  with  Secretary  West  as  general  mis- 
sionaries and  assistant  collectors,  are  Rev.  James  Reid, 
one  of  the  most  useful  and  highly  esteemed  members  of 
the  General  Association.  For  years  he  has  been  an  ac- 
tive member  of  different  committees;  member  of  the 
state  mission  board,  of  which  he  was  for  many  consecu- 
tive years  the  efficient  recording  secretary.  His  habitual 
cheerfulness,  ready  and  humorous  wit,  generous  spirit 
and  exemplary  christian  life  added  to  excellent  preach- 
ing ability  combine  to  make  him  a  general  favorite  with 
his  brethren  and  the  people.  His  heartfelt  sermons  and 
genial  conversation  are  elements  of  decided  power  and 
well  merited  influence. 

Rev.  Lewis  E.  Martin,  a  name  familiar  to  the  rec- 
ords of  the  General  Association,  has  done  vigorous  and 
effective  work  as  another  special  aid  to  the  correspond- 
ing secretary.  Besides  his  work  as  general  missionary 
and  special  agent,  he  has  been  of  signal  service  to  the 
denomination  in  counseling  churches  whose  troubles 
threatened  disintegration  and  disruption. 

Rev.  T.  A.  Bowman  has  been  mentioned  before  in 
these  pages  as  an  active  secretarial  adjunct.  He  has 
been  associated  in  such  work  a  greater  number  of  years 
than  any  other  agent  of  the  General  Association.  This 
alone  certifies  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by 
his  brethren.  His  name  is  inseparable  from  the  Baptist 
history  of  Southeast  Missouri.  There  is  perhaps  not  a 
Baptist  in  all  that  quarter  of  the  state  that  does  not 
know  and  respect  him.  Other  portions  of  the  state  are 
acquainted  with  his  work,  and  love  him  for  the  work's 
sake. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Keltner,  in  Southwest  Missouri,  labors 
diligently  in  a  field  where  much  work  is  needed  to  bring 
the  churches  into  cooperation  with  the  General  Associa- 


Post  Jubilee  Period.  221 

tion.  His  labors  have  not  been  in  vain.  One  of  the 
chief  missions  of  General  Association  agency  is  to  en- 
large the  mission  spirit  of  the  churches  and  to  enlist 
them  in  active  and  intelligent  cooperation  in  state  mis- 
sion work.  He  who  does  this,  though  his  collections 
may  be  small,  is  building  for  the  future  and  his  work  is 
of  prime  importance. 

Through  the  work  of  corresponding  secretary  and 
his  aids  the  aim  is  to  get  all  the  churches  to  systematic 
and  habitual  help  to  state  missions.  This  done  and  per- 
severed in,  and  Missouri  shall  have  been  won  to  Christ. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

AGENCIES  AND  AGENTS. 

He  who  protests  against  agencies  defies  an  inex- 
orable law  of  the  universe.  From  the  infinite  mind 
down  to  and  through  the  ramifications  of  physical 
forces  and  phenomena,  results  are  effected  through  sec- 
ondary agencies.  The  great  first  cause  of  all  things, 
made  and  governs  creation  by  subordinate  activities. 
Opposition  to  the  agency  methods  of  enterprise  is  to 
object  to  the  order  of  nature. 

After  God  had  made  out  of  unseen  things,  the 
things  that  do  appear,  and  had  placed  man  in  dominion 
over  the  works  of  His  hands,  He  administers  the  af- 
fairs of  His  providential  government  of  the  race 
through  the  minds  and  hands  of  men.  When  he  would 
cause  the  Israelites  to  be  carried  into  Egypt,  He  per- 
mits Joseph  to  be  sold  into  bondage,  and  from  bondage 
He  lifts  him  into  premiership.  When  the  nation  of  Is- 
rael is  oppressed  by  the  Pharaohs,  God  raised  up  and 
commissioned  Moses  as  their  deliverer.  When  He  gave 
the  law,  Moses  was  made  the  law-giver.  Joshua  was 
commissioned  to  complete  the  deliverance  begun  under 
Moses.  When  the  Hebrew  captives  were  to  be  res- 
cued from  the  cruelties  of  an  irate  Chaldean  monarch 
and  tyrant,  a  heavenly  messenger  was  dispatched  to  stay 
the  heat  of  fiery  furnaces  and  make  harmless  the  claws 
of  ravenous  beasts.  When  the  fullness  of  the  times  had 
come  and  all  things  were  ready  to  offer  redemption  to 
Jew  and  to  Gentile,  prophecies  through  human  agencies 
were  accomplished  by  divine  assumption  of  the  human. 
The  God-man  in  the  setting  up  of  His  kingdom  on  the 
earth  appointed  human  agents  as  witnesses  in  Judea  and 
to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth. 

222 


Agencies  and  Agents.  323 

In  the  secular  affairs  of  human  Hfe  the  same  law 
obtains  and  prevails.  Civil  government  is  a  necessity 
to  the  progressive  development  of  human  society.  Mon- 
archies govern  through  agencies.  Premiers  and  subor- 
dinate cabinet  counsellors  administer  aft'airs  of  state. 
In  democracies  like  our  own,  the  people  have  their 
agents  from  the  chief  magistrates  down  to  the  cross- 
roads postoffice.  Legislatures  have  their  agents 
from  speaker  or  presiding  officer  to  the  pages.  Courts 
have  their  clerks,  marshals,  sheriffs,  gaolers,  etc. 

So  is  it  in  the  great  industrial,  commercial  and 
financial  whirl  of  a  busy  world.  Great  manufacturing 
establishments  have  their  entrepreneur  or  general  busi- 
ness manager,  and  on  down  through  attorneys,  clerks, 
salesmen,  cashiers,  etc.  Transportation  establishments 
have  a  variety  of  agencies,  from  presidents  of  corpora- 
tions down  to  mail  men.  Banks  have  their  directors, 
presidents,  cashiers,  tellers  and  bookkeepers.  Mer- 
chants, their  local  and  traveling  salesmen,  clerks,  cash- 
iers, etc.  Manifestly  it  is  true  that  without  the  system  of 
secondary  forces  the  world  could  not  carry  on  the  en- 
terprises that  prevent  social  stagnation  and  decay. 

No  one  has  ever  yet  been  able  to  put  into  opera- 
tion a  scheme  by  which  the  christian  religion  can  be 
kept  alive  and  progressive  without  agencies  and  agents. 
The  church  is  Christ's  agent  on  the  earth.  The  pastor 
and  deacons  and  church  clerk  and  janitor  are  the  agents 
of  the  church. 

Shall  local  churches  cooperate  in  holding  forth  the 
word  of  life?  If  not,  how  shall  the  uttermost  parts  of 
earth,  and  the  people  that  dwell  in  religious  darkness  be 
reached  with  the  light  of  life?  If  cooperation  is  law- 
ful, how  shall  the  churches  cooperate  without  a  method  ? 
Any  method  that  employs  workers  is  a  system  of 
agency. 

The  most  natural,  and  therefore  the  most  common 
method  of  cooperation  is  by  community  organization — 


224  Agencies  and  Agents. 

association,  convention,  society,  assembly,  conference, 
what  not?  These  organizations  can  not  go  en  banc 
into  the  field.  They  must  have  representatives.  These 
representatives  are  agents.  But  these  general  organi- 
zations can  not  be  in  frequent  session  to  look  after  the 
details  and  changing  conditions  and  fresh  demands  of 
the  work.  They  must  have  proxies.  These  proxies 
are  agents.  Men  supposed  to  be  safe  counsellors  and 
devoted  to  Zion's  welfare  are  selected  as  such  immedi- 
ate representatives. 

These  smaller  bodies,  that  meet  more  frequently 
than  the  general  body,  are  usually  called  boards.  These 
boards  are  invested  with  limited  discretionary  power. 
They  can  not  go  beyond  the  organic  law  and  special  in- 
structions of  the  body  they  represent.  Conscientious, 
common  sense  men  don't  desire  to  transgress  the 
bounds  fixed  by  the  principal — the  power  that  creates 
the  board  is  the  principal. 

The  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association  is  no 
exception  to  the  general  rule.  Boards  of  general  re- 
ligious organizations,  including  Baptists,  had  existence 
long  before  the  General  Association  did.  It  is  safe  to 
infer  that  informed  and  conscientious  men  are  careful 
of  fundamental  principles  and  practical  policies.  The 
fact  that  the  board  system  has  had  the  indorsement  of 
such  men  through  the  generations  is  certainly  worthy 
of  respectful  and  serious  consideration. 

It  is  frankly  and  cheerfully  conceded  by  all  candid 
and  well  informed  men  that  every  man  is  entitled  to  his 
individual  opinion.  But  the  occasional  man  that  rises 
up  to  object  to  a  prevalent  and  time-tried  custom, 
should  remember  that  the  many  dead  and  living  ap- 
provers of  that  custom  were  and  are  entitled  to  their 
individual  opinions  and  that  the  many  are  as  likely  to 
be  right  as  are  the  few. 

Boards  can  not  do  the  w^ork  committed  to  them 
without  the  time,  thought  and  service  of  a  man  or  men 


Agencies  and  Agents.  225 

who  can  and  will  look  specially  after  the  details  of  the 
work  for  which  the  board  has  its  existence.  Such  rep- 
resentatives are  the  agents  of  the  board  employing  them. 
They  are  expected  to  do  a  particular  work,  without 
which  the  objects  of  the  principal  organization  could 
not  be  reached. 

The  popular  objection  to  the  employment  of  agents 
for  general  religious  work  is  that  money  is  required  to 
support  the  agents.  The  fact  that  this  objection  is 
never  urged  by  the  contributors  of  money  for  general 
religious  progressive  work,  should  be  sufficient  reason 
for  dismissing  the  objection  without  further  attention. 
But  as  the  objection  affords  a  certain  class  of  agitators 
who  love  conspicuity,  an  opportunity  to  gather  a  non- 
contributing  following,  it  may  be  well  to  offer  a  few 
suggestions  for  the  benefit  of  such  as  feel  a  responsive 
inclination  to  the  objection.  It  has  not  yet  been  certi- 
fied that  the  leading  objectors  to  the  paid  agency  system 
have  refused  pay  for  the  services  they  have  rendered  in 
the  name  of  religion.  Some  of  them  preach  the  gospel 
with  the  impression  that  the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire.  Some  others  will  accept  the  subscription  price 
of  the  paper  through  which  is  pubilshed  the  philippics 
at  the  agency  system. 

There  is  a  principle,  altogether  practical,  involved 
in  the  system  of  paid  agencies  for  general  religious 
work  that  should  have  the  candid  and  unbiased  atten- 
tion of  all  reasonable  men.  That  principle  is  set  forth 
and  briefly  elaborated  in  the  annual  report  of  the  State 
Mission  Board  to  the  General  Association  at  the  meet- 
ing for  1879: 

'Tt  must  not  be  forgotten  by  any  of  us,  that  it  is  a 
principle  that  holds  good  in  all  monetary  affairs, 
whether  that  money  is  used  to  gain  sacred  or  secular 
ends,  that  each  dollar  put  into  any  enterprise  must  pay 
its  own  way  to  the  end  for  which  it  is  designated.  The 

15 


2  26  Agencies  and  Agents. 

fact,  therefore,  that  in  our  contributions  to  the  cause  of 
missions,  whether  home  or  foreign,  some  percentage  is 
usually  needed  to  meet  the  expense,  first  of  procuring 
that  contribution,  and  secondly,  to  enable  the  amount 
to  reach  its  destination  is  no  just  cause  of  complaint  on 
the  part  of  the  donor. 

"There  should  be  no  consumption  of  funds  in  un- 
necessary or  unproductive  labor.  But  where  the  time 
and  labor  of  an  agent  are  necessary  in  order  to  produce 
the  contribution,  the  person  contributing  through  that 
agent  ought  to  expect  to  pay  an  honest  share  of  the  ex- 
penses of  such  agency." 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  General  Association 
(Society),  held  at  Bonne  Femme  church,  1835,  an  ex- 
ecutive (committee)  board  was  appointed,  and  located 
at  Fayette.  It  was  eminently  proper  to  make  the  local 
home  of  the  general  body  at  the  town  where  the  meeting 
of  three  preachers  resulted  in  the  call  for  the  Brick 
Providence  meeting.  Then  too,  Howard  county  at  that 
time  was  the  most  famous  county  in  the  state,  and  Fay- 
ette the  leading  town  in  Central  Missouri,  and  Central 
Missouri  was  the  Baptist  stronghold  of  the  state.  The 
board  at  Fayette  was  for  years  composed  of  such  men 
as  Samuel  C.  Majors,  Roland  Hughes,  Urial  Sebree, 
Wade  M.  Jackson,  Thos.  Fristoe,  Leland  Wright,W.  C. 
Ligon,  Fielding  Wilhite,  Isaac  Lionberger,  R.  E.  Mc- 
Daniel,  William  Carson,  R.  S.  Thomas,  A.  P.  Williams, 
Wm.  McPherson,  William  Duncan,  A.  D.  Landrum,  H. 
Wallace,  A.  T.  Hite,  D.  Perkins,  T.  C.  Harris.  Noah 
Kingsberry,  D.  H.  Witt,  John  Robinson,  J.  W.  Hughes, 
L.  S.  Eddins,  T.  E.  Hatcher,  M.  F.  Price,  Noah  Flood, 
John  Taylor,  S.  T.  Hughes,  Jno.  Moss,  Jas.  Waddell, 
E.  S.  Dulin,  J.  B.  Jeter,  A.  Sherwood,  D.  H.  Hickman, 
R.  H.  Harris,  R.  C.  Branham,  J.  E.  Welch.  G.  H.  Old- 
ham, G.  W.  Morehead,  Stephen  Wilhite,  James  F. 
Connor,  G.  M.  Lockett,  Geo.  R.  Hughes.  Wm.  H. 
Stapleton,  W.  R.  Rothwell,  Allen  Hughes,  Samuel  C. 


Agencies  and  Agents.  227 

Duncan.  E.  G.  Garnett,  J.  N.  Garnctt,  M.  D.,  Wm.  M. 
liell,  Rice  Patterson,  Addison  Lewis,  ]\1.  U.,  George 
Rhoades,  Wm.  P.  Jackson,  Jerry  Kingsberry,  X.  X. 
Buckner,  Ben.  Paine,  Tlios.  Tindal,  J.  H.  Silvay,  S.  J. 
Duncan,  Y.  R.  Pitts,  J.  V.  Schofield,  T.  W.  Morehead. 
The  executive  board  continued  to  be  located  at 
Fayette  until  1866.  A  period  of  thirty-one  years.  It 
is  therefore  safe  to  say  that  inasmuch  as  the  efficiency 
and  usefulness  of  the  Association  depended  largely 
upon  the  wisdom,  prudence  and  devotion  of  the  execu- 
tive board,  the  Association  received  its  firm  setting  and 
leading  characteristics  from  the  first  and  long  con- 
tinued home  of  its  board.  Urial  Sebree  and  Roland 
Hughes  were  respectively,  in  early  days,  the  presiding 
officer  of  the  board.  Saml.  C.  Majors  was  a  member 
of  the  board  during  the  whole  of  the  time  of  its  resi- 
dence at  Fayette.  He  served  alternately  as  treasurer, 
president  and  secretary.  His  faithfulness  through 
seasons  of  adversity  and  prosperity,  through  cloud  and 
sunshine  was  of  even  tenor  and  unabating  interest.  For 
steadfastness  of  purpose,  consistency  of  devotion  and 
intelligently  applied  sound  judgment  in  all  of  the  af- 
fairs in  public  life  both  sacred  and  secular  he  was  a 
most  remarkable  man.  While  other  members  of  the 
board  for  the  period  named — most  of  whose  names 
have  been  given  above — were  men  well  suited  in  all  re- 
spects for  the  sacred  responsibilities  laid  upon  them,  it 
can  be  said  without  injustice  to  any  one  of  them  that 
the  mind  and  heart  of  Saml.  C.  Majors,  constantly  as- 
sisted by  his  untiring  and  thoroughly  competent  con- 
frere, Leland  Wright,  was — next  to  God — the  mainstay 
and  assurance  of  the  infant  enterprise  on  up  to  the 
period  of  maturit}-  and  strength.  Saml.  C.  Majors  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Kentucky.  August  26.  1805. 
In  1829  he  moved  to  Fayette  and- continued  to  reside 
there,  an  honored  citizen,  a  courteous  gentleman  and  a 
useful  christian.     He  died  at  Fayette  March  13.  1880. 


228  Agencies  and  Agents. 

He  leaves  a  venerable  and  saintly  widow,  who,  with  her 
husband  in  his  lifetime,  made  their  home  in  Fayette  a 
real  home  for  every  Baptist  preacher  that  journeyed 
that  way.  Sister  Majors  is  a  mild,  loving  and  graceful 
saint,  who  has  furnished  the  author  with  some  inter- 
esting recollections  of  the  early  days  of  the  General  As- 
sociation. Bro.  Majors  and  his  wife  (nee  Elizabeth 
Daily)  are  the  parents  of  Hon.  Saml.  C.  Majors,  who 
ably  represented  his  senatorial  district  in  the  General 
Assembly,  and  who  died  in  1895,  in  Fayette,  where  he 
was  born  and  reared.  Sister  Majors  is  happy  in  having 
the  affectionate  and  tender  ministrations  of  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Lou  Arline,  the  wife  of  Hon.  Wm.  Arline,  a 
lawyer  of  Fayette.  Mrs.  Arline  has  through  her  whole 
life  been  a  staunch  friend  of  the  General  Association. 

A  sketch  of  Leland  Wright,  the  second  to  perform 
the  duties  of  corresponding  secretary  for  the  General 
Association,  is  given  in  a  preceding  chapter.  He  is 
represented  in  Fayette  by  a  worthy  son  of  a  noble  sire. 
Dr.  W.  S.  Wright  is  a  leading  physician,  ranking  high 
with  his  profession,  and  a  deacon  in  the  Fayette  Bap- 
tist church.  Urial  Sebree  and  Roland  Hughes  have 
been  written  of  in  a  preceding  chapter. 

Wade  M.  Jackson,  sometimes  president  and  some- 
while  treasurer  and  again  corresponding  secretary  of 
the  executive  board  at  Fayette,  was  an  eminent  citizen 
of  Howard  county.  He  was  born  in  Fleming  county, 
Kentucky,  December  3,  1797.  He  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Howard  county;  and  though  a  man  of  decided 
hauteur  of  manner  and  quickness  of  temper,  he  was 
honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  a  seat  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  of  the  state  legislature,  and  with  the 
responsible  office  of  county  judge.  He  was  an  active, 
useful  and  influential  worker  and  giver  in  all  leading 
denominational  enterprises.  A  brother  of  Gov.  Clai- 
borne Jackson  and  every  whit  his  equal  in  intellect, 
learning  and  influence.     He  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 


Agencies  and  Agents.  229 

one  years  at  his  magnificent  farm  home  in  Howard 
county. 

From  1 867  on  for  several  years,  the  state  mission 
(executive)  board  was  located  at  Columbia.  While  at 
this  point  its  members  were:  D.  H.  Hickman,  James 
Harris,  J.  A.  Hollis,  W.  J.  Patrick,  R.  H.  Smith,  W. 
M.  Jackson,  Saml.  C.  Majors,  W.  M.  Bell,  W.  R.  Roth- 
well,  A.  Sherwood,  J.  F.  Clark,  J.  Guthrie,  R.  S.  Dun- 
can, X.  X.  Buckner,  A.  P  .Williams,  I.  Ingram,  J.  T. 
Williams,  T.  W.  Barrett,  H.  M.  Richardson,  J.  S. 
Green,  W.  M.  McPherson,  J.  L.  Stephens,  J.  M.  Rob- 
inson, George  Kline,  J.  C.  Bernard,  G.  W.  Rogers,  J. 
B.  Wornall,  E.  D.  Jones.  W.  N.  Crawford,  H.  C.  Lollar, 
J.  W.  Waddell,  S.  W.  Marston,  R.  T.  Prewitt,  L.  B. 
Ely,  Noah  Flood,  W.  M.  Page,  B.  McRoberts,  E.  S. 
Dulin,  T.  H.  Hickman,  J.  D.  Murphy,  N.  J.  Smith, 
John  Robinson,  Wm.  Carson,  S.  A.  Beauchamp,  Joshua 
Hickman,  Geo.  W.  Trimble,  H.  Fletcher,  T.  M.  James, 
G.  W.  Morehead. 

In  1873,  with  the  General  Association  in  session  at 
]\Iacon,  the  following  resolution  was  ofifered  by  J.  W. 
Warder,  D.  D.,  and  after  some  spirited  discussion,  was 
adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  the  board  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion be  located  during  the  next  associational  year  in  St. 
Louis." 

While  the  board  was  at  Columbia  its  first  presi- 
dent was  Hon.  David  Hickman.  A  sketch  of  the  life 
and  character  of  this  eminent  layman  appears  in  a 
former  chapter.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Hon.  James 
L.  Stephens,  who  continued  in  that  office  until  the  re- 
moval of  the  board  to  St.  Louis.  For  further  knowl- 
edge of  this  distinguished  brother  the  reader  is  referred 
to  the  chapter  on  Education  {Stephens  College). 

While  the  board  was  at  Columbia  its  first  treasurer 
was  James  Harris  a  leading  agriculturist,  judge  of  the 
county  court,  an  active  and  influential  citizen.     He  was 


230  Agencies  and  Agents. 

succeeded  in  this  responsible  office  by  L.  B.  Ely.  See 
chapter  (Education — Williani  Jetvell  College).  Bro. 
Ely  was  succeeded  by  Robt.  T.  Prewitt,  of  Columbia. 
This  excellent  brother,  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him, 
was  an  influential  member  of  the  Columbia  church, 
highly  esteemed  as  a  reliable  business  man.  In  his  last 
will  and  testament  he  left  $5,000  as  a  permanent  mis- 
sion fund  for  Little  Bonne  Femme  Association,  the  in- 
terest only  to  be  used,  and  this  at  the  discretion  of  the 
deacons  of  the  Columbia  church.  Bro.  Prewitt  died  sev- 
eral years  since,  not  having  reached  a  greater  period  of 
life  than  is  commonly  reckoned  middle  age.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  office  of  treasurer  by  Judge  Geo.  W. 
Trimble,  who  still  lives  in  Columbia,  having  been  sev- 
eral times  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens  with  impor- 
tant public  trusts. 

The  board  at  St.  Louis  had  as  its  members  while 
there  the  following  persons  : 

Joshua  Hickman,  W.  L.  C.  Brey,  Marshall  Broth- 
erton,  A.  H.  Burlingham,  W.  Pope  Yeaman,  J.  L 
Stephens,  L.  B.  Ely,  J.  D.  Murphy,  S.  A.  Beauchamp 
J.  C.  Maple,  J.  W.  Warder,  D.  T.  Morrill,  M.  M.  Man- 
ning, J.  M.  Robinson,  J.  F.  Cook,  J.  A.  Flood,  F.  M 
Ellis,  T.  W.  Barrett,  Nathan  Cole.  \Vm.  M.  Senter,  J 
B.  Wornall,  J.  T.  Williams,  S.  W.  Marston,  E.  S.  Dulin 
J.  H.  Luther,  S.  Thornhill,  W.  M.  Page,  A.  M.  Mor- 
rison, J.  L.  Applegate,  Geo.  Kline,  John  Hensley,  D.  J 
Hancock,  O.  S.  Lyford,  E.  D.  Isbell,  Frank  Ely,  S.  H 
Ford,  James  Carroll,  W.  W.  Boyd,  J.  E.  Chambliss,  M 
L.  Laws,  W.  M.  Bell,  Geo.  A.  Lofton. 

In  1 878,  with  the  General  Association  in  session  at 
Mexico,  the  following  suggestion  and  recommendation 
from  the  committee  to  the  report  of  the  executive  board 
was  referred  and  adopted  : 

"To  effect  a  more  perfect  reunion  in  our  work,  we 
deem  it  desirable  to  locate  the  board  at  Mexico." 


Agencies  and  Agents.  331 

While  ihe  board  was  at  St.  Louis  its  first  president 
was  Rev.  Joshua  Hickman,  who  now  past  his  three 
score  years  and  ten.  still  resides  in  St.  Louis,  a  hale, 
hearty  and  active  pastor.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
but  has  been  a  resident  of  Missouri  since  185 1.  Since 
when  he  has  filled  important  positions  in  the  denomina- 
tion and  an  eminent  place  in  the  confidence  and  affec- 
tions of  his  brethren.  His  rare  ability  as  a  purely 
evangelical  preacher  has  kept  him  in  demand  for  forty- 
seven  years  in  Missouri.  He  was  succeeded  in  the 
presidency  of  the  board  by  Hon.  Nathan  Cole,  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  St.  Louis.  He  has  been  mayor 
of  that  great  city  and  has  represented  one  of  its  districts 
in  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  and  has  been  pres- 
ident of  the  Merchants'  Exchange  of  St.  Louis. 
Though  now  seventy-seven  years  of  age,  he  is  still  an 
active  business  man,  and  deacon  of  the  Second  Baptist 
church,  St.  Louis,  of  which  he  has  had  continuous  mem- 
bership since  1852.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  presi- 
dency of  the  board  by  W.  Pope  Yeaman.  who  contin- 
ued in  that  ollfice  until  after  the  removal  of  the  board  to 
Mexico. 

The  board  has  been  located  at  INIexico  for  twenty 
vears — at  this  writing  1898 — and  its  members  at  differ- 
ent dates  through  these  years  have  been :  J.  C.  Maple. 
W.  Pope  Yeaman,  John  A.  Guthrie.  J.  D.  Murphy,  T. 
W.  Barrett,  G.  A.  Lofton,  W.  W.  Boyd,  Wm.  Harris, 
W.  C.  Busby,  J.  M.  Robinson.  J.  W.  Waddell.  J.  Reid. 
Toel  Guthrie,  John  M.  Gordon,  T.  M.  James  (all  the 
while),  L.  B.  Ely,  J.  T.  WilHams,  W.  M.  Bell,  B.  L. 
Bowman  (of  these  nineteen  who  constituted  the  first 
board  at  Mexico,  eight  are  dead),  A.  G.  Turner,  A.  C. 
Aver>%  W.  F.  Elliott,  N.  T.  Mitchell,  W.  J.  Patrick, 
C.  h'  Hardin,  J.  C.  Armstrong,  Frank  Ely,  A.  F.  Fleet. 
E.  L.  Goldsberry,  E.  W.  Stephens,  J.  P.  Green,  D.  J. 
Hancock,  R.  C.  Clarke,  J.  J.  Brown,  G.  R.  :\IcDaniel. 
A.  C.  Rafiferty,  W.  D.  Shepherd,  J.  W.  Southworth,  S. 


232  Agencies  and  Agents. 

Y.  Pitts,  W.  R.  Wilhite,  S.  M.  Brown,  J.  T.  Daniel,  W. 
T.  Campbell,  J.  W.  Ford,  J.  T.  M.  Johnston,  J.  F.  Kem- 
per, J.  L.  Applegate,  J.  L.  Lawless,  W.  M.  Senter,  J. 
W.  Stewart,  R.  D.  Duncan,  J.  S.  Basket,  Byrd  Duncan, 
C.  G.  Daniels,  R.  P.  Johnston,  N.  M.  Givan,  J.  T. 
Cheatham,  J.  D.  Biggs,  Lester  S.  Parker,  T.  L.  West, 
G.  F.  Roth  well,  Everett  Gill,  J.  E.  Cook,  J.  R.  Yates, 
John  E.  Franklin. 

The  presidents  of  the  board  at  Mexico  have  been 
W.  Pope  Yeaman  until  November,  i878,  when  he  re- 
signed to  accept  the  corresponding  secretaryship,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Maple.  This  last  name  oc- 
curs so  often  in  this  book  that  it  is  useless  to  write  more 
than  that  he  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio  the  eighteenth 
day  of  November,  1833;  that  he  was  educated  at 
Shurtliff  College  at  Alton,  Illinois;  that  in  October, 
1857,  he  commenced  his  pastoral  work;  and  that  most 
of  these  forty-one  years  of  active  and  useful  ministry 
have  been  devoted  to  Missouri.  He  continued  in  the 
presidency  of  the  board  by  successive  annual  elections 
until  1886,  when  by  reason  of  his  proposed  removal  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  church  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  he  declined  re-election,  and  was  succeeded  by  Ex- 
Gov.  Chas.  H.  Hardin,  who  continued  to  hold  the  office 
until  his  death,  which  was  in  1892,  on  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  July.  It  goes  for  the  saying  that  Governor  Har- 
din was  an  active  and  efficient  president  of  the  board. 
As  citizen,  lawyer,  financier,  legislator  and  governor  he 
was  skillful,  punctilious  and  conscientious  in  the  dis- 
charge of  duty.  His  death  was  greatly  lamented  by 
the  entire  state.  Gov.  Hardin  was  succeeded  in  the 
board  presidency  by  W.  F.  Elliott,  Esq.,  of  Moberly, 
who  continued  in  office  until  1896,  when  by  reason  of 
impaired  health  he  declined  re-election.  He  filled  the 
office  with  great  fidelity  and  efficiency.  He  brought  to 
bear  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  to  the  board  and  the 
General  Association  his  long  and  intelligent  experience 


Agencies  a)id  Agents.  233 

as  a  civil  officer  and  banker,  and  now  thougli  retired 
from  active  public  business,  he  devotes  much  attention 
to  church  interests,  and  as  a  member  of  the  board  and 
chief  committees  of  the  William  Jewell  College,  and  as 
president  of  the  Ministers'  Aid  Society,  he  is  devoted  to 
the  duties  of  his  office.  In  all  of  the  general  councils 
.of  the  denomination  in  the  state  he  is  an  earnest  and 
intelligent  worker,  and  is  deservedly  honored  with  the 
esteem  of  his  brethren. 

Bro.  Elliott  was  succeeded  by  Hon.  Noah  M. 
Givan,  the  well  known  jurist  and  ex-circuit  judge  of 
Harrisonville.  Judge  Givan  continued  in  office  until 
October,  1898,  when  detained  by  professional  business 
from  the  annual  session,  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  F.  Kemper,  of  Marshall.  Bro.  Kemper's  long  mem- 
bership in  the  board,  and  as  its  vice-president,  and  as 
an  active,  useful  and  influential  member  of  the  General 
Association  pointed  to  him  as  the  one  man  for  the  pres- 
idential succession.  He  at  the  same  meeting  of  the 
General  Association  was  elected  assistant  moderator  of 
that  body. 

During  the  twenty  years  residence  of  the  board  at 
Mexico,  its  recording  secretaries  have  been  J.  T.  Wil- 
liams, J.  D.  Murphy,  J.  C.  Armstrong,  T.  W.  Barrett 
and  James  Reid. 

Through  all  of  these  years  Hon.  John  A.  Guthrie 
has  been  the  faithful,  laborious,  and  generous  treasurer 
of  the  board.  He  has,  in  this  relation,  done  an  amount 
of  hard  work  little  understood  by  those  who  are  not 
familiar  with  the  operations  of  state  mission  work. 
The  sum.s  of  money  handled  are  not  so  large  as  in  some 
secular  institutions,  but  the  multiplicity  of  sources,  and 
the  great  number  of  details  devolve  upon  the  treasurer 
as  much  care  and  watchfulness  as  if  he  were  handling 
millions  of  dollars  in  larger  sums.  Treasurer  Guthrie 
is  a  native  Missourian.  He  was  born  in  Guthrie,  in 
Callaw'ay  county,  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  December, 


234  Agencies  and  Agents. 

1839.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  state  schools  of  his  county  and  at  Westmin- 
ster College,  in  Fulton.  He  did  not  complete  the  col- 
lege course,  but  he  has  proved  himself,  by  an  active, 
upright,  successful  and  useful  course  in  life,  to  have 
been  better  educated  than  thousands  of  college  diplo- 
mates.  While  at  school  in  Fulton  he  was  converted  to 
Christ,  while  attending  a  series  of  meetings  conducted 
by  Presbyterians.  He  afterwards — in  May,  1869 — 
joined  the  Baptist  church  at  Platte  City  and  was  bap- 
tized by  Rev.  J.  J.  Feltz.  He  crossed  the  plains — once 
known  as  the  great  American  desert — in  1864,  and  re- 
turned in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year;  driving  an  ox 
team  from  Denver  to  Nebraska  City,  which  required 
thirty  days;  the  tedious  journey  ending  October  12, 
1864.  He  traded  in  cattle  from  1864  to  '69  in  Kansas 
and  Nebraska.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  Callaway 
county  in  September,  1869,  and  in  that  year  married, 
and  lived  on  the  farm  for  six  years.  He  moved  to 
Mexico  in  i876,  and  has  continued  to  reside  and  do 
business  there  to  this  day.  His  life  in  Mexico  has  been 
a  busy  one,  yet  quiet,  unperturbed  and  undemonstra- 
tive. He  has  so  gained  the  confidence  of  the  people  in 
his  business  capacity  and  trustworthiness  that  he  has 
had  for  years  the  management  of  many  estates  as 
guardian,  curator,  etc.  For  several  years  his  fiduciary 
business  was  so  great  that  he  has  for  several  years  in 
succession  paid  taxes  on  funds  intrusted  to  him,  vary- 
ing from  $1,500  to  $2,300  a  year.  For  a  number  of 
years  he  gave  bonds  for  the  security  of  trust  funds, 
amounting  to  $300,000.  He  has  been  for  a  number  of 
years  a  director  of  the  Southern  Bank  of  Mexico,  and 
for  the  past  five  years  has  been  vice-president  of  that  in- 
stitution. In  the  meantime  he  has  had  his  own  business 
to  look  after,  which  has  been  comfortably  successful. 
In  addition  to  all  of  his  secular  business  he  has  found 
time  to  do  the  work  of  the  treasurership  of  as  many  as 


Agencies  and  Agents.  235 

five  difterent  institutions  at  the  same  time,  and  do  faith- 
fully the  work  of  church  deacon,  Sahl)ath  School  super- 
intendent, trustee  of  Hardin  College,  moderator  and 
treasurer  of  his  district  association.  In  all  of  this 
work  he  has  never  worried.  Having  a  strong  con- 
stitution and  good  health  preserved  by  temperate 
living,  he  has  been  equal  to  the  foregoing  work,  to 
which  must  be  added  fourteen  years  as  count}-  judge, 
twelve  of  which  he  has  been  presiding  judge.  His 
motto  has  been  and  is :  "Look  after  details  and  the  ag- 
gregates will  come  round  all  right;  do  your  part  well 
and  have  faith  in  Him  who  controls  the  destinies  of 
men."  One  with  this  principle  as  a  guide,  may  serve  God 
while  serving  man  and  looking  after  his  own  interests. 
There  are  some  men  whose  names  have  been  writ- 
ten in  these  pages  whose  characters  and  lives  young 
men  may  study  to  great  profit.  The  lives  of  such  men 
as  Gov.  Hardin,  Judge  Guthrie,  L.  B.  Ely,  T.  M.  James, 
W.  F.  Elliott.  Nathan  Cole  and  E.  W.  Stephens  are 
demonstrative  illustrations  of  the  proposition  that  large 
and  successful  secular  business  imposes  no  obstacle  or 
hindrance  to  a  life  of  active  consecration  to  the  service 
of  Christ.  It  is  hoped  that  this  unpretentious  volume 
will  in  the  days  to  come  serve  a  further  purpose  than 
that  of  a  mere  compendium  of  sixty  or  more  years  of 
the  history  of  the  General  Association.  There  are  in- 
telligent men  and  women  in  the  world  who  seem  to 
think  that  constant  attention  to  the  institutions  of 
Christianity  is  a  waste  of  time,  and  a  mere  indulgence  of 
a  weak  sentimentality.  Let  the  reader  bear  in  mind  a 
Majors,  a  Sebree,  a  Hughes,  a  Jackson,  a  Carson,  a 
Hickman,  a  Wornall,  a  Senter.  a  Brotherton.  a  J.  L. 
Stephens  and  others  of  the  lay  workers  in  the  General 
Association,  all  prosperous  and  prominent  men.  and 
judge  for  himself  if  the  service  of  God  is  not  better  than 
the  service  of  the  world,  the  flesli  and  the  Devil.  But 
for  the  eminent  lavmcn  whom  God  has  given  to  Mis- 


236  Agencies  and  Agents. 

souri  Baptists,  and  their  willing  service  of  Him,  the 
General  Association  could  never  have  grown  into  the 
useful  institution  it  has  become. 

The  preceding  brief  review  of  the  first  agency  of 
the  General  Association  for  the  accomplishment  of  its 
objects,  may  serve  as  a  preparation  for  a  branch  of  the 
subject  which,  strange  to  say,  was  for  twenty  years  of 
the  existence  of  the  Association,  from  the  beginning, 
and  now  is  to  a  limited  degree  a  source  of  anxiety,  dif- 
erence  of  opinion  and  solicitude;  and  that  is  the  ques- 
tion of  a  paid  agency. 

For  years  the  Association,  and  more  particularly 
the  board,  had  seriously  debated  the  question  of  a  paid 
general  agent  to  promote  the  work  of  state  missions. 
As  early  as  1836,  Anderson  Woods  was  "elected  gen- 
eral agent  to  preach  throughout  the  state  and  promote 
the  objects  of  the  society,"  but  he  declined  the  appoint- 
ment. In  1837  Kemp  Scott  was  appointed.  It  does 
not  definitely  appear  to  what  extent  this  excellent  min- 
ister of  the  gospel  performed  the  work  of  general  agent. 

Subsequent  to  the  appointment  of  Kemp  Scott, 
other  steps  looking  to  the  appointment  of  an  agent  were 
ineffectually  taken.  In  1847  Rev.  R.  S.  Thomas  moved 
to  so  amend  the  constitution  "as  to  permit  the  cor- 
responding secretary  to  receive  compensation  for  his 
services."  This  was  agreed  to,  and  on  further  motion 
"it  was  agreed  that  the  amount  of  compensation  of  cor- 
responding secretary  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  ex- 
ecutive board."  Whereupon  T.  C.  Harris  offered  the 
following  resolutions  which  were  adopted : 

"Whereas,  The  appointment  of  a  general  agent, 
to  be  sustained  by  the  funds  of  this  Association,  is  in- 
compatible with  the  interests  of  this  body,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  affectionately  request  twelve 
ministering  brethren  of  our  denomination  to  gratui- 
tously devote  one  month  during  the  ensuing  year  to 


Agencies  and  Agents.  237 

present  the  claims  of  the  General  Association,  and  take 
up  collections  to  promote  its  objects." 

In  response  to  this  request  twelve  brethren  volun- 
teered their  services.  But  the  minutes  of  the  following 
year  are  significantly  blank  as  to  the  results  of  the 
gratuitous  labor.  It  may  have  been  performed  and  al- 
lowed to  pass  unnoticed,  or  the  "twelve"  may  have  been 
providentially  hindered.     The  records  do  not  testify. 

If  a  company  of  farmers  had  requested  twelve  men 
to  go  through  the  country  for  a  month  and  gratuitously 
harvest  the  crops,  or  husk  corn,  the  request  would  have 
been  regarded  as  a  neighborhood  joke.  That  a  tal- 
ented and  informed  minister  of  the  gospel  who  had  read 
in  "the  Book"  that  "the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire" 
should  have  offered  such  a  resolution  indicates  the  in- 
fluence of  popular  and  ignorant  prejudice.  The  very 
persons  who  could  contribute  to  state  missions,  and  wdio 
would  see  "the  twelve"  go  forth  wathout  remuneration 
were,  many  of  them  the  very  men  who  would  think  it 
offensively  ridiculous  should  they  be  asked  to  go  and 
labor  a  month  without  compensation. 

In  1850  Rev  J.  E.  Welch  offered  the  following  res- 
olution :  "That  the  executive  board  be  instructed  to 
appoint  a  general  agent  (provided  one  of  suitable  qual- 
ifications can  be  obtained)  to  visit  the  associations  and 
churches  of  the  state,  awaken  a  deeper  interest  in  the 
plans  of  this  body  and  increase  its  funds."  The  fate  of 
this  resolution  was  like  the  pledges  of  the  twelve,  so  far 
as  the  records  show.  Perhaps  one  of  "suitable  qualifi- 
cations" could  not  "be  obtained,"  or  else  the  board 
thought  best  to  ignore  the  "be  instructed"  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association. 

In  1857,  Wm.  C.  Bachelor  offered  the  following 
resolution,  which  was  referred  to  the  executive  com- 
mittee. 


23^  Agencies  and  Agents. 

"Resolved,  That  Jeremiah  Farmer  be  appointed 
general  agent  of  this  Association,  at  a  salary  of  $600, 
and  his  necessary  traveling  expenses." 

It  is  not  ascertainable  whether  Brother  Farmer  was 
offered  the  position  named  in  the  resolution,  or  having 
the  call,  he  declined  it.  Most  probable  is  the  first  con- 
jecture. Jeremiah  Farmer  was  an  able  preacher,  an 
upright  man  and  an  influential  citizen. 

In  1855  Rev.  Wm.  Bell,  from  the  committee  on 
finance,  reported,  among  other  matters,  the  following 
recommendation:  "Your  committee  would  recom- 
mend the  executive  board  to  procure  the  services  of 
some  efficient  man  in  the  bounds  of  each  association,  to 
spend  as  much  time  as  may  be  necessary  to  visit  each 
church  in  their  respective  associations — to  lay  before 
them  the  objects  of  this  Association — take  up  collec- 
tions and  pledges,  and  report  the  same  to  this  board  at 
the  next  meeting  of  this  body." 

Bro.  Bell's  resolution  in  spirit  and  theory  is  a  good 
one;  but  it  has  in  substance,  been  frequently  tried,  and 
always  with  meager  and  unsatisfactory  results.  Such 
resolutions  proceed  upon  the  theory  that  all  that  is 
necessary  to  enlist  the  approval  and  cooperation  of  a 
good  work,  is  to  lay  the  work  intelligibly  before  his 
mind.  This  theory  ought  to  work  itself  out  in  prac- 
tice. But  the  experience  of  efforts  is  to  the  effect  that 
even  good  men  need  to  be  urged  by  those  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  specially  represent  a  given  cause.  Pastors 
ought  to  feel  themselves  called  to  work  for  missions.  If 
they  did  so  feel,  and  would  make  decided  efforts,  the)^ 
would  prove  the  best  of  agents.  Some  pastors  can  and 
do  take  a  better  collection  from  their  churches  than  can 
any  agent.  But  until  pastors  are  concerned  that  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ  shall  include  the  uttermost  parts  of 
the  earth,  special  agents  will  continue  to  be  a  necessity. 


Agencies  and  Agents.  239 

In  185T  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by 
the  General  Association : 

"Resolved,  That  this  Association  instruct  the  execu- 
tive board  to  endeavor  to  procure  the  services  of  two 
active,  efficient  ministers  to  canvass  the  state  as  gen- 
eral agents." 

In  1858,  the  committee  on  cooperation,  through  its 
chairman,  A.  P.  Williams,  made  the  following  recom- 
mendation: "We  recommend  the  appointment  of  a 
corresponding  secretary,  who  shall  be  a  collecting  and 
missionary  agent,  and  devote  his  whole  time  to  the  serv- 
ice of  the  General  Association." 

In  1859  the  executive  board  reported  to  the  Asso- 
ciation: "We  regret  that  the  operations  of  the  board 
have  been  greatly  circumscribed  by  our  failure  to  pro- 
cure the  services  of  a  competent  person  to  act  in  the 
joint  capacity  of  corresponding  secretary  and  general 
agent,  and  devote  his  whole  time  to  the  work  as  recom- 
mended at  your  last  meeting.  *  *  *  So  much  time  hav- 
ing elapsed,  it  was  then  deemed  prudent  not  to  make  an 
appointment  until  the  present  time,  hoping  that  with  a 
full  board,  and  by  consulting  with  the  delegates  to  the 
Association,  some  man  could  be  selected  w^ho  would 
agree  to  enter  upon  so  important  a  work.  The  board 
approves  the  plan  and  would  still  urge  its  importance. 
There  is  no  estimating  the  good  that,  under  the  blessing 
of  God,  may  be  accomplished  by  the  energies  of  one  in- 
telligent, pious  mind  wholly  devoted  with  tongue  and 
pen,  to  the  accomplishment  of  infusing  into  the  hearts 
of  the  Baptists  of  Missouri  a  proper  missionary  spirit. 
We  are  led  to  urge  this  policy  from  the  success  attend- 
ing it  in  other  states. 

"A  recent  writer,  giving  a  condensed  history  of 
the  home  mission  efforts  of  our  Kentucky  brethren, 
says :  'The  convention  carried  on  its  work  with  varied 
success.  The  great  deficiency  was  a  man  who  could 
devote  his  whole  time  to  the  work.'     That  object  has 


240  Agencies  and  Agents. 

been  accomplished,  and  the  success  attending  it  has 
equaled  expectations.  Corresponding  results  would 
most  likely  attend  similar  efforts  here." 

For  the  year  ending  July  21,  i860,  the  board  had, 
for  most  of  the  year,  the  services  of  Rev.  Nathan  Ayers 
as  corresponding  secretary.  The  year  was  in  many  re- 
spects an  unfavorable  one,  but  the  treasurer's  report 
shows  that  the  board  was  enabled  to  report  for  state 
mission  work  $8,629.72.  Of  which  sum  $833  was  paid 
to  the  corresponding  secretary,  who  beside  his  agency 
work  and  correspondence,  preached  many  sermons  in 
different  parts  of  the  state. 

Secretary  Ayers,  in  the  conduct  of  his  work  for  a 
single  year,  encountered  difficulties  and  obstacles  that 
discouraged  him,  such  as  much  more  recent  secretaries 
have  found  confronting  them.  He  found  a  great 
"want  of  appreciation  of  the  work."  He  complains 
that  the  ignorance  and  suspicion  of  the  work  by  many 
brethren  were  in  the  way  of  success.  He  then  adds  in 
his  report :  "We  believe  also  that  there  are  honest 
hearted  brethren,  who  believe  that  the  General  Associ- 
ation is  a  mighty  -wheel  to  roll  over  them  and  deprive 
the  district  associations  of  power,  and  grind  them  to 
powder,  and  therefore  they  are  in  favor  of  withdrawing 
their  cooperation  for  fear  of  being  crushed.  It  is  pain- 
ful to  know  that  this  obstacle  lies  in  the  way  of  many 
willfully,  who  have  no  cloak  for  their  sin,  but  ignorance 
of  the  transactions  of  the  General  Association." 

The  language  of  Brother  Ayers  may  seem  harsh  to 
some,  but  those  who  have  been  where  he  was  are  pre- 
pared to  say  "the  half  has  not  been  told."  Recent 
boards  of  the  General  Association  and  the  correspond- 
ing secretary  have  been  charged  in  public  print — claim- 
ing to  be  Baptist — with  ecclesiastical  domination,  and 
as  a  "ring"  for  carrying  out  the  purposes  of  a  single 
man,  and  as  seeking  denominational  centralization  to 
"crush"    as    with   a    "great    wheel"    associations    and 


Agencies  and  Agents.  24 1 

churches.  Secretaricr  have  had  to  meet  the  scowling 
frowns  and  discourteous  rebuffs  of  brethren  wdio  might 
have  been  ordinarily  polite  but  for  "ignorance  of  the 
transactions  of  the  General  Association."  Even  at  this 
late  day  of  popular  intelligence  and  widespread  in- 
formation of  the  great  work  of  the  General  Association, 
there  are  those  who  are  so  blinded  by  ignorance  of  the 
work  of  the  General  Association  and  so  shackled  by 
prejudice  that  they  look  with  suspicion  upon  any  repre- 
sentative of  the  General  Association.  But  all  of  this 
only  serves  to  emphasize  the  importance  of  continued 
patience  and  forbearance  in  state  mission  work.  Much 
missionary  work  remains  to  be  done  among  and  with 
the  converted.  The  anti-mission  spirit  is  not  dead,  it 
has  only  assumed  another  and  more  questionable  shape. 
One  mission  of  the  General  Association  is  to  love  the 
anti-missionary  spirit  to  death. 

W.  J.  Patrick  succeeded  Secretary  Ayers  as  cor- 
responding secretary,  and  did  office  work.  There  was, 
however,  on  account  of  the  w^ar  of  the  states,  a  vacancy 
from  i860  to  1866,  when  Bro.  Patrick  became  secre- 
tary. He  Avas  succeeded  by  Rev.  Jesse  A.  Hollis  in 
1879.  Of  this  man  of  God,  Rev.  Dr.  G.  W.  Hyde  says, 
speaking  of  Secretary  Hollis'  sudden  death :  "Thus 
passed  away  one  of  our  best  educators,  best  pastors  and 
most  useful  men." 

This  brings  our  history  of  agencies  and  agents  to 
the  secretaryship  of  Rev.  John  M.  Robinson,  beginning 
in  1868,  and  ending  in  i87o.  He  was  an  able  and  effi- 
cient secretary.  Of  him  and  his  successors  down  to  the 
present  (1898)  enough  has  been  said  in  other  chapters 
of  this  book  for  the  purposes  of  this  chapter. 

Agents  are  a  necessity,  but  if  the  agent  or  cor- 
responding secretary  of  the  state  mission  board  is  faith- 
ful and  diligent  in  the  work  of  his  office,  he  has  no  easv 

16 


242  Agencies  and  Agents. 

position,  no  sinecure.  He  lives  from  home,  he  labors 
constantly  and  often  under  most  uncomfortable  condi- 
tions. His  compensation  is  necessarily  inadequate  to 
the  magnitude  of  his  work.  His  chief  reward  is  in  be- 
holding the  blessings  of  God  upon  his  labors. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

GENERAL  ASSOCIATIOX  ENDOWMENT. 

It  is  interesting  and  encouraging  to  observe  a 
gradual  but  solid  increase  of  a  permanent  fund  for  the 
endowment  of  the  primal  and  principal  work  of  the 
General  Association — state  missions. 

The  disposition  and  efforts  of  some  persons  to  live, 
in  good  works,  after  they  shall  have  passed  to  the  re- 
gions of  the  dead,  is  worthy  of  permanent  memorial 
and  earnest  commendation.  The  maxim  "let  us  live 
while  we  live"  is  false  in  philosophy  and  religion.  For 
it  limits  the  power  and  usefulness  of  the  human  life  to 
the  few  short  years  of  life  in  the  flesh. 

This  world's  goods  have  been  recognized  from  the 
earliest  times  of  a  divine  revelation  as  a  means  whereby 
man  may  and  must  honor  God.  Offerings  of  first 
fruits  and  tithes  has  been  from  the  beginning,  and  must 
be  to  the  end,  an  essential  service  of  revealed  religion. 
Such  service  is  effective  of  a  two  fold  end :  First,  it 
teaches  a  recognition  by  man  of  God's  right  to  all  things 
in  the  universe;  second,  it  serves  to  separate  man's  af- 
fections from  the  purely  carnal,  and  interest  him  in  the 
advancement  of  the  spiritual. 

To  be  giving  to  the  Lord  after  one  has  left  the 
active  connection  with  carnal  things,  evinces  a  strong 
and  controlling  desire  to  be  of  use  to  man  and  of  service 
to  Christ  as  long  as  that  service  is  needed  in  betterment 
of  the  conditions  of  the  one  and  the  glorifying  of  the 
name  of  the  other.  Such  a  state  of  mind  must  be  in  fel- 
lowship with  the  mind  that  was  in  Christ. 

Uncounted  thousands  of  dollars  are  expended  in 
monumentally  ornamenting  the  cemeteries  of  the  civil- 

243 


244  General  Association  Endoivment. 

ized  world.  Individuals,  communities  and  govern- 
ments are  occasionally  lavish  in  the  expenditures  of 
wealth  to  commemorate  the  name  of  some  revered  or 
honored  dead.  To  the  sentiment  that  inspires  this  im- 
pulse, no  protest  is  here  offered,  although  it  is  doubtless 
true  that  worldly  vanity  is  to  be  credited  with  much  of 
the  art  magnificence  of  the  cities  of  the  dead. 

If  one  desires  the  perpetuation  of  his  name  among 
men,  or  if  surviving,  would  commemorate  the  worth 
and  virtues  of  the  departed,  how  appropriate  and  how 
beautiful  to  memorialize  one's  self  or  one's  friend  by 
such  disposition  of  worldly  fortune  as  shall  forever  help 
man  on  to  better  conditions  of  life,  and  continuously 
bear  testimony  to  the  truth  and  power  of  the  christian 
religion,  and  to  the  relation  that  God's  temporal  gifts 
to  man  bear  to  the  kingdom  of  righteousness. 

The  thought  has  been  expressed  that  endowments 
of  churches  and  missionary  and  other  benevolent  en- 
terprises, tends  to  lessen  current  contributions  to  the 
support  and  progress  of  such  objects.  This  theory — if 
such  the  thought  may  be  called — is  fallacious  in  prin- 
ciple and  unsustained  by  facts.  He  who  gives  currently 
to  God  does  so  from  a  sense  of  individual  obligation, 
if  he  gives  in  a  truly  religious  spirit,  and  is  uninfluenced 
by  the  giving  or  the  withholding  of  others.  He  who  re- 
fuses to  give  to  the  Lord  because  others  have  given  mu- 
nificently, or  he  who  gives  that  he  may  be  in  accord  with 
general  sentiment  or  prevalent  custom  is  ignorant  of 
the  law  of  giving  and  robs  himself  of  the  luxury  of  giv- 
ing from  love  to  God  and  sympathy  with  man.  The 
facts  in  the  case  contradict  the  theory.  It  has  ever 
been  true,  and  shall  be  true  as  long  as  man  lives  on  the 
earth  in  present  conditions,  that  to  him  that  hath  shall 
be  given.  An  institution  dependent  upon  the  benefi- 
cence of  man,  having  strength,  will  grow  stronger, 
much  more  rapidly  than  a  weak  institution  can  acquire 
strength. 


General  Association  Endon'inent.  345 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  General  Association  of 
Missouri  Baptists,  there  was  a  special  concern  for  the 
permanency  of  the  work  it  had  undertaken,  as  shown 
by  a  few  persons  making  provision  for  an  endowment 
fund. 

The  first  contribution  to  an  endowment  fund  was 
as  early  as  1842-3,  by  one  Judge  Neal,  of  Montgomery 
county.  This  was  a  bequest  of  one  thousand  dollars  for 
the  use  and  benefit  of  the  General  Association.  When 
it  is  borne  in  mind  that  at  the  time  of  this  bequest  the 
General  Association  was  not  yet  ten  years  in  existence, 
it  is  easy  to  infer  that  notwithstanding  the  heated  and 
almost  malignant  opposition  with  which  the  young 
Association  was  confronted,  it  must  have  had  a  moral 
and  spiritual  power  in  excess  of  its  years,  so  to  have 
impressed  the  public  as  to  encourage  even  one  man  to 
divide  his  fortune  with  it. 

Judge  Neal's  gift  had  a  long  and  tortuous  history. 
The  early  records  of  the  Association  indicate  that  there 
was  considerable  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  payment  of 
the  bequest  to  the  General  Association.  In  1843  Wm. 
M.  McPherson,  of  St.  Louis,  was  made  special  agent  of 
the  Association  to  look  after  the  interest  of  the  Associ- 
ation in  the  will  of  Judge  Neal.  In  1844  "Brother 
McPherson,  through  Brother  Hinton,  asked  for  further 
time  to  report  upon  the  legacy  of  the  late  Mr.  Neal. 
Time  was  granted." 

In  1849  it  was  "Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed, charged  with  the  duty  of  negotiating  to  secure 
the  fund  bequeathed  this  Association  by  the  late  Judge 
Neal,  and  engage  counsel,  if  they  think  proper,  to  carry 
out  the  spirit  of  the  bequest,  under  the  law  of  this 
country."  "The  moderator  appointed  the  following 
committee:  L.  Wright.  W.  M.  Jackson  and  R.  S. 
Thomas." 

In  1857  the  following  action  was  taken  by  the  Gen- 
eral Association  :  "Resolved,  That  the  treasurer  of  the 


246  General  Association  Endozvnient. 

General  Association  be  authorized  to  collect  the  bequest 
of  the  late  Judge  Neal,  of  Montgomery  county,  Mo., 
amounting  to  $1,000,  principal,  and  three  years'  inter- 
est, and  that  the  treasurer  be  authorized  to  pay  the 
same  over  to  the  financial  agent  of  William  Jewell  Col- 
\ege,proz'ided  there  be  no  legal  impediment." 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  in  1858 
Rev.  J.  E.Welch  offered  the  following  resolution,  which 
was  adopted :  "Resolved,  That  the  legacy  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  bequeathed  to  the  General  Association  of 
Missouri,  by  the  late  Judge  Neal,  remain  at  interest  in 
the  hands  of  Wm.  M.  McPherson,  of  St.  Louis,  for  the 
present." 

At  this  same  meeting  a  committee  consisting  of 
James  E.  Welch  and  Wm.  M.  McPherson  was  ap- 
pointed to  "Examine  the  will  of  the  late  Judge  Neal, 
and  report  at  the  next  meeting  of  this  Association." 

In  1859  James  E.  Welch  reported  that  under  the 
terms  of  the  will  of  Judge  Neal  "the  General  Asso- 
ciation can  not  legally  apply  the  bequest  of  Judge  Neal 
to  aid  in  the  endowment  of  William  Jewell  College  or 
any  other  purpose  save  the  cause  of  missions." 

This  was  a  wise  decision,  and  seems  to  have,  in 
other  cases,  been  sustained  by  the  courts.  But  under 
the  provisions  of  the  will,  as  interpreted  by  "Baptistic" 
conceptions  and  rules  (?)  there  comes  the  question: 
what  is  the  Baptist  church?  The  will  of  Judge  Neal 
reads :  "Fourthly.  At  the  death  of  my  said  wife,  I 
give  to  the  Missouri  Missionary  Baptist  church,  one 
thousand  dollars,  to  be  by  them  appropriated  to  the  mis- 
sionary cause,  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  said 
church  regulating  missions." 

Now  it  is  evident  that  if  there  existed  a  "Missouri 
Missionary  Baptist  church"  having  rules  "regulating 
missions,"  the  money  bequeathed  by  the  testator  could 
have  been  lawfully  paid  to  such  church.  The  questions 
are,  *do  the  Missionary  Baptist  churches  of  Missouri 


General  Association  Endozvment.  247 

constitute  a  church?     And  as  such  churcli,  has  it  rules 
regulating  missions? 

These  questions  are  of  great  practical  importance, 
effecting  not  only  bequests  for  Baptist  missionary  pur- 
poses, but  also,  in  certain  cases,  the  title  to  church  prop- 
erty. In  a  certain  town,  in  this  state,  a  few  years  ago, 
certain  members  of  the  Baptist  church  in  that  town 
who  professed  to  have  reached  sinless  perfection, 
claimed  the  church  house,  as  the  true  Baptist  church  of 
the  town,  and  barred  out  that  element  of  the  church  that 
had  not  attained  unto  sinlessness.  The  iiiisanctified 
sued  for  the  possession  of  the  property.  On  the  trial 
of  the  case  in  the  circuit  court  the  author  of  this  book 
was  present  by  subpoena  as  an  expert.  The  learned 
and  gentlemanly  circuit  judge  asked  the  witness: 
"What  is  the  doctrine  of  the  Baptist  church  touching 
and  concerning  the  doctrine  of  human  sanctification  ?" 

The  witness  replied  :  "Will  his  honor  please  desig- 
nate the  Baptist  church  of  which  he  makes  inquiry?" 

"Well,"  said  the  judge,  "the  Baptist  church  of  the 
United  States." 

The  witness  replied :  "There  is  no  such  organiza- 
tion, may  it  please  your  honor." 

The  judge,  not  a  Baptist,  was  of  course  somewhat 
nonplussed  for  a  moment,  but  being  a  man  of  quick 
perception  and  discriminating  judgment,  he  asked : 
"What  are  the  views  of  the  Christian  denomination 
generally  known  as  Baptists,  touching  the  doctrine  of 
sanctification  ?" 

In  answer  to  this  question  the  witness  gave  what 
he  understood  to  be  the  general  teaching  of  Baptist 
theologians  and  churches,  concerning  sanctification. 
Without  following  this  illustrative  case  further,  suffice 
it,  the  unsanctified  side  of  the  case  in  question  obtained 
the  church  property. 

The  General  Association,  after  several  years  further 
of  perplexing  effort,  obtained  possession  of  the  Neal 


24S  General  Association  Endoivment. 

fund  from  W.  M.  McPherson,  principal  and  interest, 
and  invested  in  bank  stock.  The  whole  sum,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  hundred  dollars  interest,  or  dividends, 
collected  and  expended  in  missions,  was  ultimately  and 
finally  lost  by  the  failure  of  the  National  Bank  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  while  Col.  James  H.  Britton  was 
president  of  that  bank.  Efforts  were  made  after  the 
failure  of  the  bank  to  obtain  something  from  the  Fed- 
eral government,  for  reimbursement  of  the  loss  of  the 
Neal  fund,  but  the  comptroller  of  the  currency  in- 
formed this  writer  that  the  prior  claim  of  depositors 
taking  precedence  of  stockholders'  claim  would  leave 
nothing  for  the  Neal  fund. 

This  incident  is  given  here  to  suggest  that  bank 
stock  is  not  the  safest  investment  of  endowment  funds. 

In  Duncan's  History  of  Baptists  of  Missouri,  on 
page  356,  it  is  written :  "Under  these  circumstances,"re- 
lating  to  the  condition  of  things  for  the  past  few  years, 
"Dr.  Yeaman  filled  the  ofiice  of  corresponding  secretary 
for  part  of  the  year;  $2,461.03  (including  the  Neal 
fund)  were  collected."  This  is  an  inadvertence  on  the 
part  of  that  painstaking  historian.  Not  the  Neal  fund, 
nor  any  part  thereof  was  collected  in  the  year  1868-9, 
or  any  subsequent  year.  The  whole  of  the  Neal  fund 
had  been  lost  before  the  year  mentioned,  except  the  col- 
lections of  small  interest  money  in  preceding  years. 

To  secure  bequests  to  the  permanent  endowment 
of  the  mission  work  of  the  General  Association,  it  is 
quite  safe  to  bequeath  an  amount  to  some  one  named  in 
the  will  as  trustee,  to  be  held  and  loaned  for  the  use  and 
benefit  of  the  state  mission  work  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation. It  would  be  well  for  the  state  mission  board  to 
prepare  a  form  of  bequest,  and  have  it  annually  pub- 
lished in  the  minutes  or  record  of  proceedings  of  the 
Association  in  like  manner  as  the  constitution  is  printed 
as  standing  matter.  Bequests  in  manner  above  sug- 
gested are  sustained  by  ample  judicial  decisions.  When 


General  Association  Endoivment.  249 

the  gift  to  the  endowment  is  ante  mortem,  the  giver 
can  designate  a  trustee,  and  the  condition  of  the  gift, 
and  place  it  in  the  hands  of  the  chosen  trustee ;  in  such 
cases  the  courts  will,  if  necessary,  see  that  the  trust  is 
protected  and  faithfully  used  according  to  the  wishes 
of  the  giver. 

In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  substantially,  the  endow- 
ment fund  of  the  General  Association  has  reached  to  a 
sum  exceeding  twelve  thousand  dollars. 

The  "Butler  Fund,"  Mrs.  Emeline  Butler,  of  Cal- 
laway county,  Missouri,  died  in  1874,  and  by  her  last 
will  and  testament  left  the  sum  of  $5,000  to  John  B. 
Wornall  in  trust  for  the  General  Association.  This 
fund  was  faithfully  administered  by  Brother  Wornall 
during  his  life,  and  at  his  death  it  was  transferred  to 
John  A.  Guthrie  for  the  same  purpose,  and  by  him  se- 
curely loaned  and  the  interest  promptly  applied  to  state 
missions  dow-n  to  the  time  of  this  writing. 

A  study  of  the  fruits  of  this  fund  should  dismiss 
all  doubts  from  the  minds  of  those  who  have  questioned 
the  propriety  of  missionary  endowments.  The  inter- 
est on  this  fund  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  sums  up 
$8,000.  Now  an  analysis  of  the  work  of  the  General 
Association  wall  show  that  it  is  conservative  to  count 
the  conversion  of  one  person  for  every  ten  dollars  ex- 
pended in  state  mission  work  in  Missouri.  On  this 
basis  the  Butler  fund  is  blessed  by  the  conversion  of 
forty  persons  each  year  for  twenty  years,  bringing  the 
whole  number  of  conversions  by  use  of  that  fund  up  to 
eight  hundred.  But  further,  it  should  be  remembered 
that  that  fund  is  to  continue  through  the  ages  of  the  fu- 
ture. And  let  it  be  further  borne  in  mind  that  while  the 
conversion  of  a  soul  is  the  greatest  event  that  takes 
place  on  earth,  yet,  without  the  presence  and  life  of  the 
churches,  conversions  would  be  rare.  The  church  is 
the  "light  of  the  world."  It  is  the  church  that  "holds 
forth  the  word  of  life."     Missionary  funds,  whether 


250  General  Association  Endozvinent. 

permanent  or  current,  are  largely  used  in  sustaining, 
strengthening  and  building  up  the  churches  that  must 
grow  from  weakness  into  power.  And  further  still,  the 
preaching  of  the  gospel  is  the  abiding  protection  and 
safeguard  of  society.  The  good  that  Mrs.  Butler  has 
accomplished  by  the  bequest  to  the  General  Association 
can  not  be  computed  by  earthly  figures,  for  who  can  tell 
how  much  good  has  been  accomplished  by  the  influence 
of  those  who  were  converted  by  the  use  of  her  money. 

Let  this  matter  of  endowment  of  missions  be 
looked  at  from  yet  another  point.  How  many  churches 
are  there  in  the  state  whose  contributions  will  average 
$400  a  year,  for  a  series  of  years,  to  state  missions. 
There  is  but  one  in  the  state,  and  that  is  the  Third 
Ghurch  in  St.  Louis.  Yet  many  of  the  churches  have 
an  aggregate  taxable  wealth  that  would  many  times 
over  duplicate  the  principal  of  the  Butler  fund.  If  the 
Baptist  churches  in  the  state  of  Missouri  would  pay 
eight  per  cent  per  annum  upon  the  surplus  wealth  of  the 
membership — the  unencumbered  wealth — they  would 
not  then  have  reached  the  tithing  system — one  tenth  of 
income — and  yet  what  a  revenue  to  the  Lord's  treas- 
ury would  accrue ! 

Mrs.  Butler,  whose  maiden  name  was  Emeline 
Davis,  was  born  in  Flemming  county,  Kentucky  in 
i8o7.  In  the  '20s  she  came  with  her  parents  to  Mis- 
souri. She  was  twice  married.  Her  first  husband  was 
Dr.  W.  C.  Pugh,  who  lived  but  a  few  years.  Her  sec- 
ond husband  was  Martin  Butler,  who  died  in  1864, 
leaving  Mrs.  Butler  with  two  chlidren,  both  daughters. 
Elizabeth  J-  and  Susan  E.  One  of  them  was  married 
to  John  A.  Guthrie,  the  other  to  Richard  Gentry.  Mrs. 
Guthrie  has  been  dead  a  number  of  years,  leaving  one 
son,  who  bears  the  family  name — Martin  Butler  Guth- 
rie. The  memory  of  his  grandmother  should  be  to  him 
a  holy  inspiration.  His  mother's  life  was  beautifully 
exemplary  of  the  excellencies  of  the  christian  religion. 


General  Association  Endozvnienf.  251 

Mrs.  Gentry  still  lives  to  most  affectionately  adore  the 
memory  of  her  sainted  mother. 

Besides  Mrs.  Butler's  bequest  to  the  General  Asso- 
ciation, she  bequeathed  a  like  sum  to  Dryfork  church, 
in  Callawa}'  county,  to  keep  the  church  house  and  cem- 
etery in  repair  and  to  sustain  the  regular  ministrations 
of  the  gospel :  the  accruing  interest  on  the  bequest  only, 
to  be  used. 

The  "Emeline  Butler  Fund"  is  the  most  appropri- 
ate and  sublimest  monument  that  could  have  been 
founded  to  a  good  and  noble  woman,  whose  prudence, 
thrift  and  practical  economy,  with  the  spirit  of  holy 
consecration  enables  her  to  speak  though  dead. 

The  "Adam  C.  Woods  Fund."  This  is  a  fund  of 
$500,  given  by  the  widow  of  Adam  C.  Woods,  Mrs.  M. 
E.  Woods,  as  a  memorial  of  her  departed  husband.  The 
record  of  the  General  Association  concerning  this  fund 
is  as  follows  in  the  minutes  of  1881,  pages  20-21 :  "Mrs. 
M.  E.  Woods,  widow  of  the  late  Adam  C.  Woods,  has 
paid  to  the  corresponding  secretary  the  sum  of  five 
hundred  dollars,  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  trustee, 
who  is  to  be  nominated  by  Dr.  Yeaman,  and  appointed 
by  the  missionary  board,  which  sum  shall  be  loaned  by 
the  trustee  so  appointed,  and  the  accruing  interests  used 
for  state  mission  work.  At  the  end  of  ten  years  the 
principal  shall  be  appropriated  to  any  good  work  desig- 
nated by  the  General  Association. 

"This  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  was  given  to 
carry  out  the  wishes  of  Mr  Adam  C.  Woods,  the  late 
husband  of  Sister  M.  E.  Woods,  and  is  to  be  called  in 
our  records  the  'Adam  C.  W^oods  Fund.'  " 

In  carrying  out  the  commission  and  autliority  to 
nominate  the  trustee  for  the  foregoing  fund,  the  writer, 
who  is  named  in  the  above  extract  from  the  records  of 
the  Association,  nominated  John  A.  Guthrie,  who  was 
thereupon  chosen  ]:>y  the  board  as  such  trustee.  The 
fund  has  been  faithfully  manasfed  now  for  about  six- 


^52  General  Association  Endowment. 

teen  years,  yielding  in  the  meanwhile,  to  this  time, 
$640  interests;  on  the  basis  suggested  as  to  the  Butler 
fund,  this  interest  can  be  computed  as  accomplishing 
not  less  than  sixty-four  conversions,  besides  much 
fruit  in  other  directions. 

At  the  expiration  of  the  ten  years  named  in  the 
record,  the  missionary  board  decided  to  designate  the 
gift  to  the  "good  work"  in  which  it  had  been  employed 
from  the  beginning. 

Adam  C.  Woods  was  not  a  Baptist.  He  lived  and 
died  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian.  He  was  a  good  man. 
He  was  not  remiss  of  duty  to  his  own  church.  He 
loved  his  wife,  and  she  loved  him,  and  for  his  memory, 
at  his  suggestion,  the  $500  was  given  to  the  Baptist 
General  Association,  of  which  Mrs.  Woods  (Glover) 
has  been  a  warm  and  helpful  friend  for  many  years. 
Some  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Woods  she  was 
married  to  W.  B.  Glover,  M.  D.,  a  staunch  Baptist. 
Dr.  Glover,  who  was  a  friend  and  supporter  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association,  died  several  years  since.  Mrs.  Glo- 
ver resides  in  Marshall,  and  with  unabated  interest  in 
the  General  Association,  attends  its -annual  meetings 
and  ceases  not  to  contribute  to  its  state  mission  work. 

The  "Annie  B.  Peyton  Fund"  of  $4,935.00  came 
about  in  this  wise.  The  giver  of  the  fund  was  advanc- 
ing in  years  and  in  feeble  health  in  i876,  when  at  her 
request  she  was  visited  by  the  writer,  who  was  then 
chancellor  of  William  Jewell  College.  With  him  she 
took  counsel  as  how  to  dispose  of  a  portion  of  her  mod- 
est fortune  so  as  to  accomplish  the  greatest  good  for 
her  Savior.  She  manifested  an  interest  in  mission 
work.  She  was  then  and  there  counseled  to  divide 
what  she  had  to  give  to  the  Lord  between  William  Jew- 
ell College  and  state  missions.  To  this  she  assented 
with  seeming  heartiness.  The  visitor  made  a  memo- 
randum of  the  interview,  and  after  a  most  pleasant  talk 
of  christian  experience  and  christian  work,  by  which 


General  Association  Endozvuient.  253 

the  visitor  was  most  profited,  he  took  his  leave,  and 
never  more  saw  the  good  woman.  Upon  retiring  from 
the  work  of  the  college,  he  furnished  the  college  agent, 
Bro.  L.  B.  Ely,  with  the  memorandum,  with  the  sug- 
gestion that  he  see  the  sister,  which  he  did,  and  after- 
wards informed  the  writer  that  the  suggestions  would 
be  carried  out.  This  good  woman  has  gone  to  the 
"man}'  mansions,"  to  be  represented  on  earth  by  her  ex- 
emplary piety  and  her  thoughtful  love-gifts  to  the  Lord. 

"The  C.  H.  Hardin  Fund"  is  a  bequest  to  the 
Associational  endowment  fund,  of  $1,050.00,  by  the 
will  of  the  lamented  Ex-Gov.  Hardin,  of  whom  more 
elsewhere. 

Besides  these  there  are  the  Isabel  Hickman  fund 
of  $400,  the  Mary  P.  McKillop  fund  of  $205,  the  Mrs. 
Sarah  L.  Farmer  fund  of  $200,  the  New  Hope  church 
fund  of  $7o.  These  several  funds  now  aggregate  the 
sum,  principal,  $12,360.00.  The  interest  accruing  to 
state  missions  for  the  year  ending  October,  1898, 
amounted  to  $953.75. 

The  summary  of  the  endowment  as  ofificially  certi- 
fied at  last  date  is  as  follows : 

ENDOWMENT    FUNDS. 

Dr.         Cr. 

To  Emeline  Butler  fund $  5,000  00 

To  Annie  B.  Peyton  fund 4-935  00 

To  C.  H.  Hardin  fund 1,050  00 

To  Isabel  Hickman  fund 400  00 

To  Mary  P.  McKillop  fund 205  00 

To  Adam  C.  Woods  fund 500  00 

To  Sally  Farmer  fund 200  00 

To  New  Hope  church  fund 7o  00 

To  total  interest  collected 953  75 

To  total  fund  and  interest $13,313  "^5 

By  interest  to  state  missions.  . .  .  $953  '^5 

To  total  endowment  fund $12,360  00 

Examined  and  found  correct. 

James  L.  Applegate,  Auditor. 


354  General  Association  Endoivment. 

It  is  especially  worthy  of  observation  that  of  the 
eight  several  sums  of  the  endowment  funds,  six  of  them 
are  by  women.  From  the  trying  days  when  woman 
was  last  at  the  cross  and  first  at  the  tomb  of  the  Savior, 
she  has  been  the  steadfast  and  self-sacrificing  friend  of 
the  cause  for  which  her  best  friend  lived  and  died  and 
lived  again.  As  long  as  the  glory  light  of  Calvary 
shall  beam  upon  womankind,  so  long  shall  the  city  set 
on  a  hill,  gleam  its  radiance  upon  a  sin-bedarkened 
world. 

If  the  present  amount  of  the  endowment  fund  were 
doubled,  the  interest  from  the  investment  would  pay 
the  salary  of  a  corresponding  secretary,  and  part  of  the 
incidental  expenses  of  conducting  state  mission  work. 
Then  practically  every  dollar  contributed  by  churches, 
associations  and  individuals  to  the  current  funds  would 
go  undiscounted  to  the  missionaries  and  mission  fields. 
It  has  already  been  shown  in  these  pages  that  money 
invested  for  any  purpose  should  pay  its  own  way.  This 
is  a  business  proposition  that  practical  common  sense 
will  not  controvert.  But  if  the  benevolently  disposed 
should  by  an  adequate  endowment  provide  for  all  nec- 
essary incidental  expenses  of  the  work,  perhaps  the 
fault-finders  might  cease,  at  any  rate  the  cloak  for  their 
sin  of  covetousness  would  be  taken  and  they  should 
then  have  to  stand  in  the  hideousness  of  their  disrobe- 
ment. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  WORK  OF  GENERAL  ASSOCIATION. 

As  paradoxical  as  it  may  appear,  it  is  nevertheless 
true  that  it  is  very  difficult  to  make  a  most  interesting 
chapter  out  of  a  most  interesting  topic  germain  to  the 
scope  of  this  work.  Early  in  the  history  of  the  Mis- 
souri Baptist  General  Association,  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  the  best  informed  and  most  progressive  Baptists  of 
the  state  had  a  full  appreciation  of  the  worth  of  Sabbath 
School  work,  and  as  early  as  1845  the  General  Associ- 
ation began  to  formally  recognize  the  work  and  to  take 
steps  for  its  promotion  in  the  churches. 

A  careful  reading  of  the  action  of  the  General  As- 
sociation for  a  period  of  half  a  century  discovers  a  zeal 
interrupted  and  hindered  by  a  prevalent  and  perplex- 
ing apathy.  The  resolutions  of  the  Association  and 
the  reports  of  committees  are  not  unlike  the  efforts  at 
animal  respiration  in  a  heavy  and  oppressive  atmos- 
phere, or  like  the  agonies  of  one  in  a  night-mare.  Al- 
most all  deliverances  of  committees  are  elaborations  of 
the  primal  questions  of  Sunday  Schools,  or  glittering 
generalities  of  their  worth,  and  exhortations  to  zealous 
activity,  interwoven  with  lamentations  of  lack  of  gen- 
eral interest  and  neglect. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Sabbath  School  work 
is  a  factor  in  the  forces  of  religious  progress,  and  a 
legitimate,  even  essential  part  of  missionary  enterprise; 
and  it  may  seem  a  mystery  that  a  body  of  christians  so 
intelligently  and  conscientiously  bent  on  mission  work, 
as  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association,  should 
for  so  long  a  time  feel  embarrassed  and  hindered  in  the 
work. 

Perhaps  an  explanation  is  at  hand.  Sabbath 
School    enterprise    is    particularly    and    especially    the 

255 


256    Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

work  of  the  local  churches ;  and  pastors  are  the  divinely 
constituted  leaders  of  the  churches.  So  long  as  pas- 
tors fail  to  realize  that  they  are  responsible  for  the 
spiritual  and  working  condition  of  the  churches,  so 
long  will  spiritual  apathy  prevail.  So  long  as  a  pastor 
feels  that  his  duty  is  discharged  by  the  preaching  of  a 
few  perfunctory  sermons,  and  making  a  few  socio-re- 
ligious  visits  to  the  membership,  with  an  annual  pro- 
tracted meeting  thrown  in  for  good  count,  so  long  will 
Sabbath  School  work  be  neglected. 

It  may  well  be  worth  the  while  of  the  General  As- 
sociation to  consider  the  best  means  for  enlisting  the 
convictions  and  energies  of  pastors  in  Sunday  School 
work  as  the  best  Sunday  School  missionary  methods. 
Indeed  this  suggestion  might  be  considered  yet  a  little 
further :  Would  it  not  be  well  for  the  schools  of  proph- 
ets to  institute  and  wisely  conduct  a  Sabbath  School 
normal  department  in  connection  with  the  seminary 
course?  In  the  very  near  future  all  of  our  stronger 
and  more  influential  churches  will  have  as  their  pastors, 
preachers  from  the  theological  seminaries.  And  inas- 
much as  the  Sunday  School  work  is  distinctively  a 
church  work,  it  is  not  going  too  far  to  urge  that  the 
teachers  of  pastoral  theology  are  under  religious  obliga- 
tion to  train  men  up  to  qualification  for  this  vitally  im- 
portant work. 

There  are  two  apparent  objections  to  pastoral 
management  of  Sunday  Schools,  but  they  are  only  ap- 
parent: First.  The  pastor  has  not  time.  To  this  it 
may  be  replied :  If  the  pastor  has  not  time  to  give  to 
the  Sabbath  School,  then  he  has  not  time  for  the  over- 
sight of  the  flock.  But  he  has  the  time.  It  is  not  nec- 
essary that  the  pastor  take  official  superintendence  of 
the  school,  yet  an  instance  could  be  given  where  the 
pastor  of  a  large  and  leading  church  in  a  certain  city, 
superintended  the  Sabbath  School  for  two  years,  be- 


Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association.   257 

sides  preaching  twice  every  Sunday  to  his  congrega- 
tion, attended  prayer  meeting  every  Wednesday  even- 
ing, and  lectured  to  his  young  people  every  Friday 
evening.  Those  two  years  were  the  most  prosperous 
of  a  six  years'  prosperous  pastorate;  and  the  work  did 
not  kill  the  pastor.  There  are  only  certain  emergen- 
cies that  should  demand  the  pastor's  active  official 
headship  of  the  Sunday  School,  but  when  such  emer- 
gencies arise  he  should  be  equal  to  the  occasion.  Sec- 
ond. The  Sabbath  School  has  in  many  places  so  far 
assumed  a  distinctive  institutional  character  that  the 
superintendent  looks  upon  his  school  as  something 
apart  from  the  church,  and  regards  all  pastoral  sugges- 
tion and  direction  as  an  interference  with  his  vested 
rights.  The  manifestation  of  this  spirit  on  the  part  of 
superintendents  has  held  back  pastors  not  a  few  from 
active  participation  in  Sunday  School  work. 

If  in  every  case  the  church  would  organize  and 
control  the  Sabbath  School  as  a  part  of  its  work,  the 
pastor  would  be  free  and  bound  to  give  it  due  and  ef- 
fective oversight. 

In  1845  the  General  Association  so  far  recognized 
the  American  Sunday  School  Union  as  to  become  prac- 
tically an  auxiliary  to  that  organization.  The  Sunday 
School  Union  was  organized  and  professedly  conducted 
on  a  non-sectarian  basis.  It  had  its  representatives  and 
agents  distributed  throughout  the  entire  country.  In 
1845  the  General  Association  appointed  a  committee 
"On  American  Sunday  School  Union."  That  commit- 
tee had  as  its  members  R.  S.  Thomas,  Wm.  Duncan  and 
B.  Anderson.     This  committee  reported  as  follow^s : 

"The  committee  on  the  American  Sunday  School 
Union,  beg  leave  to  report  that  this  society  was  organ- 
ized and  has  been  conducted  on  the  most  catholic  prin- 
ciples. It  is  composed  of  members  of  the  most  ortho- 
dox churches,  wdiose  great  object  seems  to  be  to  estab- 
lish in  everv  neighborhood  in  the  United  States  a 
17 


35S    Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

Sunday  School  in  which  every  youth  may  be  instructed 
in  the  general  principles  of  the  christian  religion. 

"No  book  is  published  by  the  society  until  ap- 
proved by  the  committee  of  publication,  which  com- 
prises a  member  from  each  of  the  different  churches 
composing  the  Union,  any  one  of  which  may  reject  any 
book  submitted  for  investigation. 

"By  this  arrangement  it  is  impossible  that  any- 
thing sectarian  or  of  an  immoral  character  can  appear 
in  their  publications.  *  *  *  Your  committee  deem 
it  unnecessary  to  enlarge  upon  this  interesting  subject; 
but  recommend  to  the  Association  to  encourage,  by  all 
means  within  its  power,  the  operations  of  the  Sunday 
School  Union."  The  report  of  the  committee  was 
adopted. 

In  1846  the  committee  on  Sunday  Schools  was 
composed  of  T.  C.  Harris,  A.  P.  Williams  and  M.  D. 
Noland.  This  committee  reported  a  decided  indorse- 
ment and  advocacy  of  the  Sunday  School  Union :  "The 
committee  on  the  American  Sunday  School  Union  re- 
spectfully report  that  this  society  is  still  pursuing  the 
even  tenor  of  its  way;  strictly  adhering  to  the  catholic 
principles  upon  which  it  was  organized,  and  is  still 
worthy,  therefore,  of  our  attention  and  patronage.  *  *  * 

"Our  churches  should  be  admonished  to  remem- 
ber that  great  benefits  are  to  be  derived  from  Sunday 
Schools  that  can  not  be  obtained  through  any  other 
medium.  As  we  forget  not  in  age  what  we  learn  in 
youth,  we  should  learn  in  youth  what  we  ought  to  re- 
member in  age.  This  may  be  done  in  the  Sunday 
School. 

"As  we  look  forward  to  a  period  when  christians 
and  christian  ministers  shall  see  eye  to  eye,  and  speak 
the  same  things,  may  we  not  cherish  the  belief  that  the 
Sunday  School  Union,  by  its  anti-sectarian  but  purely 
evangelical  publications,  inculcating  in  the  minds  of  our 
youth   the   same   sentiments,   and   strengthening  their 


SiiJiday  School  Work  of  General  Association.   259 

love  for  the  truth  will  greatly  assist  in  bringing  about 
this  most  desirable  result."     This  report  was  adopted. 

The  report  was,  perhaps,  not  written  by  the  com- 
mittee. It  makes  a  statement  not  sustained  by  the 
publications  of  the  Union.  Those  publications  were 
professedly  non-sectarian,  but  they  were  not  "anti-sec- 
tarian." They  did  not  directly  teach  the  peculiar  tenets 
of  any  denomination ;  but  there  are  persons  living  to- 
day who  were  in  Sunday  School  classes  in  the  '40s,  at 
the  time  the  books  of  the  Sunday  School  Union  were 
generally  in  use,  and  who  remember  that  there  was 
nothing  in  those  books  to  suggest  to  a  child  or  youth 
the  truth  of  the  distinctive  principles  of  the  Baptists ; 
but  very  much,  indirectly  put,  to  incline  the  youthful 
mind  otherwise. 

In  1847  the  committee  on  Sunday  Schools  was 
composed  of  W.  C.  Ligon,  T.  C.  Harris  and  W.  M. 
Jackson.  They  reported  as  follows :  "The  American 
Sunday  School  Union  still  adheres  strictly  to  the 
catholic  principle  upon  which  it  was  organized,  and  is 
widely  circulating  its  useful  and  truly  evangelical  pub- 
lications. It  appears  from  their  annual  report,  pub- 
lished in  May  last  that,  during  the  year  preceding  that 
report,  their  agents,  in  addition  to  their  Sunday  School 
labors,  have  put  in  circulation  useful  books,  valued  at 
$10,216.50,  w-hich  at  the  price  of  the  Society  $10  libra- 
ries would  exceed  100,000  volumes  averaging  120  pages 
each.  In  addition  to  which  they  have  distributed  6,000 
Bibles  and  testaments. 

"Their  efficient  agent  in  this  state.  Eld.  R.  F.  Ellis, 
has,  since  last  winter,  organized  fifty  new  schools,  dis- 
tributed for  the  benefit  of  Sabbath  Schools  about  1,000 
Testaments  and  $200  worth  of  other  books."  *  *  * 
Report  adopted. 

A  comparison  of  the  substance,  language  and  com- 
position of  the  three  foregoing  reports  suggests  a  single 
authorship.     Eld.  Ellis  was  at  each  of  the  meetings,  and 


26o    Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

there  can  hardly  be  a  question  that  each  committee 
availed  itself  of  the  service  of  the  "efficient  agent"  in 
preparing  the  reports  for  the  Association.  The  Sun- 
day School  Union  was  again  commended  in  1848.  In 
1849  no  mention  is  made  of  the  Union  in  the  report 
from  the  committee  on  Sunday  Schools.  Rev.  E.  S. 
Dulin  was  chairman  of  that  committee,  the  report  urges 
upon  the  churches  greater  attention  to  and  cooperation 
in  the  work. 

In  1850  Rev.  J.  E.  Welch  was  chairman  of  the 
committee,  the  report  concludes  with  the  following  res- 
olution :  "That  we  have  entire  confidence  in  the  books 
and  cooperation  of  the  American  Sunday  School  Un- 
ion, and  recommend  to  our  churches  to  secure  for  their 
Sunday  Schools  a  suitable  and  ample  library  from  the 
Depository  of  that  Society  and  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society." 

In  185 1  J.  E.  Welch  is  again  chairman  of  commit- 
tee on  Sunday  Schools;  no  mention  is  made  in  the  re- 
port of  the  Sunday  School  Union.  The  report  laments 
that  "the  efforts  or  recommendations  of  this  association 
seem  to  have  had  but  little  influence  in  prompting  the 
churches  to  more  vigorous  action  in  the  Sunday  School 
cause,  if  we  may  judge  from  facts."  In  1852  T.  C. 
Harris  is  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  in  the  course 
of  the  report  uses  this  discouraging  language :  "Your 
committee  can  not  withhold  an  expression  of  surprise 
at  the  apathy  of  our  churches  upon  this  subject."  In 
1853  no  mention  is  made  of  the  Sunday  School  Union, 
though  R.  F.  Ellis  is  chairman  of  the  committee.  From 
this  time  forward  there  is  a  manifest  disposition  to  de- 
nominationalize  the  Sunday  Schools,  and  in  a  resolution 
of  E.  S.  Dulin  the  association  declares  for  denomina- 
tional literature.  In  1855  the  Association  was  solici- 
tous for  more  interests  in  Sabbath  Schools,  and  the 
committee  for  this  year,  consisting  of  E.  I.  Owen,  J.  E. 
Hughes,  and  J.  E.  Welch,  was  to  report  on  "the  means 


Sunday  School  JVork  of  General  Association.   2,61 

of  increasing  their  number  in  the  state."  The  com- 
mittee says :  "We  regard  with  deep  sohcitude  and 
grief  the  condition  of  Sunday  Schools  in  our  state,  as 
represented  in  the  statistical  report  to  which  we  all  lis- 
tened with  so  much  interest  and  earnestness."  The  re- 
port concludes  with  the  following  recommendations : 
"That  the  executive  board  be  instructed  to  require  all 
their  missionaries  to  pay  special  attention  to  the  inter- 
ests of  Sunday  Schools  wherever  they  may  labor."  In 
1857  the  Association  makes  no  deliverance  on  the  sub- 
ject; the  same  is  true  of  1858.  In  1859  a  committee 
composed  of  A.  P.  Williams,  J.  C.  Maple  and  M.  M. 
IModisett  was  appointed  on  Sunday  Schools.  This 
committee  made  an  able  report  on  the  general  and 
special  utility  of  Sunday  Schools,  and  concluded  by  a 
recommendation  to  the  churches :  "The  importance  of 
getting  up  and  sustaining  Sunday  Schools  in  their 
midst."  The  report  of  the  following  year,  Rev.G.  Ander- 
son, chairman  of  committee,  in  an  able  paper,  conclud- 
ing with  the  recommendation  of  the  year  before.  In 
1 86 1,  no  committee,  and  no  action.  In  1863  the  commit- 
tee reports  through  John  T.  Williams,  and  says :  "It  is 
lamentable  how  few  of  our  churches  appreciate  the 
moral  power  of  the  Sabbath  School."  In  1865  (there 
was  no  meeting  in  '64)  the  Sunday  School  committee 
consisted  of  John  Hill  Luther,  J.  A.  Hollis  and  X.  X. 
Buckner.  The  report  concludes  with  these  words . 
"That  in  the  administration  of  our  Sunday  School  af- 
fairs, we  avoid  all  practices  and  all  appliances  contrary 
to  the  simplicity  of  our  denomination  and  to  the  word 
of  God." 

Here  is  an  intimation  that  there  had  been  or  was  a 
recognition  of  "practices  and  appliances"  not  in  accord 
with  Baptist  views. 

In  1866  G.  W.  Hyde,  as  chairman  of  committee  on 
Sunday  Schools,  concludes  the  report  with  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  which  were  adopted  : 


262    Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

"ist.  That  we  hail  with  deHght  the  organization 
of  the  Sunday  School  Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention,  and  that  we  promise  to  sustain  it  with  our 
prayers,  our  sympathies  and  our  means ; 

"2d.  That  we  will  use  in  our  schools  the  publica- 
tions of  said  board,  especially  their  delightful  little  pa- 
per called  Kind  Words,  for  little  children. 

"3d.  That  whenever  practical  we  will  make  our 
schools  thoroughly  denominational. 

"4th.  That  we  will,  as  Baptists,  enter  with  re- 
newed energy  and  zeal  upon  the  prosecution  of  this 
work,  and  will  endeavor  under  God,  to  interest,  instruct 
and  convert  our  children." 

In  1867,  the  interest  in  Sunday  Schools  is  still  apa- 
thetic, and  Geo.  W.  Rogers,  chairman  of  committee,  re- 
ports :  "The  importance  of  Sunday  Schools  is  realized 
by  so  few  of  our  pastors  and  churches,  that  your  com- 
mittee despairs  of  awakening  a  proper  interest  in  a  brief 
report."  *  *  *  The  third  recommendation  of  this  re- 
port is  that  superintendents  and  teachers  encourage 
Kind  Words,  Yonng  Reaper  and  Child's  Delight. 

We  have  now  reached  the  end  of  the  first  period 
marked  out  for  the  review  and  discussion  of  the  subject 
of  this  chapter.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  General  Asso- 
ciation was  not  "in  active  cooperation  with  the  Sunday 
School  Union"  during  this  period.  Within,  and  for  a 
short  time,  of  that  period  there  was  such  active  cooper- 
ation. 

In  1868  a  convention  for  Sunday  School  mis- 
sionary enterprise  was  organized  at  Paris,  Monroe 
county,  while  the  General  Association  was  in  session  at 
that  place.  The  convention  adopted  a  constitution,  and 
named  the  organization  "The  Missouri  Baptist  Sunday 
School  Convention." 

It  was  organized  by  making  E.  D.  Jones  president. 
There  were  a  number  of  vice-presidents,  and  an  execu- 
tive board,   secretary  and   treasurer.     S.  W.  Marston 


I 


Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association.   26 


o 


was  made  General  Agent,  afterwards,  designated  "Mis- 
sionary Secretary."  The  convention  entered  vigor- 
ously upon  the  work  of  promoting  Sunday  School 
interests  in  the  state.  It  made  report  of  wonderful 
progress.  Its  reports  showed  the  organization  of  many 
hundred  Sabbath  Schools,  and  as  many  as  sixty  auxil- 
iary Sunday  School  Conventions. 

The  fourth  annual  session  of  this  convention  con- 
vened with  the  church  in  Glasgow,  at  the  time  of  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Association.  At  that  meeting 
preliminary  steps  were  taken  for  the  consolidation  of 
the  executive  board  of  the  convention  with  the  state 
mission  board  of  the  General  Association.  The  consol- 
idation was  not  effected  until  October,  i878;  when 
the  constitution  was  so  amended  in  1879  as  to  read: 
"After  article  9 ;  a  new  article :" 

"Article  10.  The  Sunday  School  work  of  this 
body  shall  be  carried  on  through  a  Sunday  School 
Board,  consisting  of  ten  members  (exclusive  of  gen- 
eral agent)  who  shall  be  chosen  yearly,  and  shall  have 
like  quorum  and  powers  with  the  missionary  board." 

In  1889,  the  constitution  was  again  amended  by 
striking  out  the  tenth  article,  and  so  amending  the 
eighth  article  as  to  make  it  read :  "The  State  Mission- 
ary and  Sunday  School  business  of  this  Association 
shall  be  conducted  by  a  board,  etc." 

Thus  the  Sunday  School  work  under  separate  and 
special  administration  ceased,  constitutionally  in  Oc- 
tober, 1879 — provisionally  from  October,  i878. 

It  follows  that  until  1889,  from  1868,  the  Sunday 
School  work  was  conducted  by  the  convention  until 
[878,  and  from  that  time  to  1889,  by  a  Sunday 
School  board  of  the  General  Association. 

The  many  auxiliary  conventions  organized  by  the 
State  Convention  are  no  more  heard  of.  How  many 
of  the  many  hundreds  of  schools  constituted  by  that 
administration  are  now  in  existence  there  is  no  way  of 


364  Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

ascertaining.  The  indications  are  that  only  a  few  have 
survived  their  sensational  birth. 

For  the  last  year  of  the  convention  and  for  at  least 
one  year  under  the  Sunday  School  Board  of  the  General 
Association,  Rev.  M.  L.  Laws  did  efficient  service  as 
Sunday  School  Missionary  Secretary.  He  was  a  man 
of  peculiar  characteristics  and  exceptionally  good  quali- 
ties. He  gave  up  the  work  of  Sunday  School  Secretary 
in  1 88 1  to  accept  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Decatur,  Illinois.  But  owing  to  declining  health  he 
was  compelled  to  resign  that  work  about  the  first  of 
February,  1882.  From  this  date  until  his  death  he  was 
a  great  sufferer.  He  died  May  3,  1882,  not  yet  forty 
years  of  age.  In  his  last  moments  he  said :  "I  now^ 
take  a  ride  in  Israel's  chariot,"  and  forthwith  his 
spirit  was  borne  to  the  General  Assembly  and  church 
of  the  first  born.  All  who  really  knew  M.  L.  Laws 
loved  him  for  his  genuine  affectionateness  of  heart,  his 
unaffected  candor  and  stern  christian  integrity. 
Though  dying  out  of  Missouri,  he  lives  in  that  state  in 
the  hearts  of  those  who  knew  him. 

Bro.  Laws  was  succeeded  in  the  office  of  Sunday 
School  Missionary  Secretary  by  Rev.  T.  W.  Barrett. 
He  commenced  work  January,  1883,  and  conducted  the 
work  from  his  office,  not  feeling  justified  in  giving  up 
his  pastoral  connections.  At  the  board  meeting  in  the 
following  July,  Bro.  Barrett  resigned  the  work,  and 
John  T.  Williams  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  Rev.  I. 
R.  M.  Beeson  was  appointed  Sunday  School  missionary 
for  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  state,  and  Rev.  J.  E. 
Norvell  for  all  of  the  state  south  of  the  river.  These 
brethren  were  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties, 
and  the  Sabbath  School  was  materially  advanced  in 
their  fields  of  labor.  The  summary  of  the  work  as  re- 
ported by  brethren  Barrett  and  Williams  for  themselves 
and  the  Sunday  School  missionaries  is  as  follows : 
"Addresses,  200;  sermons,  120;  baptized  from  Sunday 


Sunday  School  Jl'ork  of  General  Association.   265 

Schools,  9T ;  churches  visited,  51;  Sunday  Schools  vis- 
ited, 86;  families  visited,  81;  Sunday  Schools  organ- 
ized, 20;  conventions  held,  24;  tracts  distributed,  643; 
received  for  Sunday  School  work,  $542.86." 

In  October,  i884,Brother  N.  J.  Smith  was  chosen 
Sunday  School  secretary.  The  executive  board  says : 
"He  promptly  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  position 
to  which  he  was  called,  carrying  with  it  his  comprehen- 
sive understanding  of  the  work  and  his  devotion  to  it." 

Bro.  Smith  conducted  the  work  of  27  Sunday 
School  institutes;  delivered  195  addresses;  organized 
1 5  new  Sunday  Schools,  and  collected  of  money  for  the 
work  $553.33.  During  this  year,  through  the  agency 
of  Dr.  C.  C.  Bitting,  in  correspondence  with  the  cor- 
responding secretary  of  the  General  Association,  the 
American  Baptist  Publication  Society  rendered  cordial 
cooperation  and  material  support  to  the  work.  In  ad- 
dition to  Bro.  Smith's  work,  the  general  missionaries, 
acting  under  instructions  from  the  board,  visited  14? 
Sabbath  Schools;  delivered  loi  Sunday  School  ad- 
dresses, and  organized  20  new  schools. 

Bro.  Smith  was  continued  in  the  work  for  another 
year,  and  in  October,  1886,  reported  the  organization 
of  60  new  schools,  the  attendance  upon  28  institutes. 
The  board,  in  its  report,  says :  "The  organization  of 
conventions  and  institutes  has  progressed  so  far  as  to 
give  reliable  promise  of  greater  zeal  and  efficiency  to 
the  work  of  another  year.  Four  district  conventions 
have  been  organized,  with  four  executive  boards,  com- 
posed of  the  best  men  for  the  work.  These  conven- 
tions, it  is  believed,  will  prove  a  decided  aid  to  the 
work  and  prospect  for  grand  results.  Brother  Smith's 
visits  to  churches,  Sunday  Schools  and  associations  ef- 
fect a  good  to  the  cause  of  Christ  that  can  not  be  esti- 
mated by  statistics.  The  incentives  to  personal  piety 
and  christian  work  whicii  his  addresses  furnish,  give  a 


266  Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

value  to  his  work  equal  to  that  which  can  be  definitely 
reported." 

At  the  October  meeting  of  the  board  in  1886,  Bro. 
Smith  was  chosen  for  the  third  time  as  Sunday  School 
secretar}^,  but  at  the  end  of  one  month's  work,  he  re- 
signed, and  W.  L.  Boyer  was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 
Bro.  Boyer  continued  in  charge  of  the  work  for  the  en- 
tire state  until  October,  1888.  For  these  two  years  he 
visited  88  Sunday  Schools,  attended  26  institutes,  or- 
ganized II  institutes,  delivered  350  addresses  and  or- 
ganized 7  Sunday  Schools.  His  total  collections  for  the 
two  years  amounted  to  $1,769.87.  In  the  report  of  the 
board  for  1888,  it  is  said:  "The  Sunday  School  work 
has  been  prosecuted  with  gratifying  success.  The 
State  Sunday  School  Missionary,  Bro.  W.  L.  Boyer, 
has  labored  a  great  deal  of  the  time  in  the  most  desti- 
tute portions  of  the  state,  and  yet  his  collections  of 
means  to  prosecute  the  work  are  gratifying  in  every 
respect.  'Send  us  Bro.  Boyer  again,'  is  the  word 
which  is  sent  to  the  corresponding  secretary  from  many 
destitute  fields.  The  denomination  has  reason  to  thank 
God  for  the  raising  up  of  this  man  'called  of  God'  as  we 
believe  to  his  peculiar  work."  Bro.  Boyer  in  his  annual 
report,  says :  "The  Baptists  of  Missouri  are  awakening 
as  never  before,  to  a  realization  of  their  privileges  and 
responsibilities  in  this  department  of  the  church  work." 

In  the  autumn  of  1888  the  plan  of  Sunday  School 
missionary  operations  was  changed  from  one  general 
missionary  to  one  for  each  of  the  four  quarters  of  the 
state.  Under  this  arrangement,  brethren  W.  L.  Boyer, 
for  northeast  Missouri,  Rev.  J.  S.  Buckner  for  the 
southwest  district,  Rev.  J.  E.  Denham  for  the  north- 
west district,  and  Rev.  Joshua  Hickman  in  the  south- 
east district,  from  the  beginning  of  the  second  quarter 
of  the  year,  and  in  connection  with  his  work  as  general 
missionary.  This  arrangement  continued  until  1891, 
with  some  changes  as  to  district  missionaries.  Rev.  W. 


Sunday  School  JVork  of  General  Association.   267 

A.  Jones  labored  six  months  in  the  southeast  district  for 
the  year  ending  October,  1890.  Brethren  Boyer  and 
Buckner  spent  the  entire  year  in  the  work,  and  Bro. 
Denhani  about  nine  months. 

For  the  year  ending  October,  1891,  Brother  Boyer 
labored  until  the  middle  of  the  month  of  February, 
1891,  and  Brother  Buckner  until  April  15  of  the  same 
year.  For  these  three  and  a  half  years  the  district 
work  resulted  in  the  organization  of  87  Sunday  Schools, 
the  reopening  of  two  schools,  visits  to  146,  organiza- 
tion of  16  institutes  and  visits  to  36  others.  Sermons 
preached,  979;  Sunday  School  addresses  delivered, 
1,098;  conversions,  45;  amount  of  money  collected  by 
Sunday  School  missionaries,  $4,742.48. 

During  the  whole  time  of  Bro.  Boyer's  superin- 
tendency  and  field  work,  and  during  the  operation  of 
the  district  plan,  the  American  Baptist  Publication  So- 
ciety was  rendering  material  aid  in  money  and  books. 

For  this  work  from  i887  to  1890,  the  General  As- 
sociation paid  out  in  salaries  the  sum  of $8,084  56 

Of  this  sum  there  were  field  collections.  . ..  4,742  48 
Amount  contributed  by  the  American  Baptist 

Publication   Society 1.561   4° 

Amount  derived  from  S.  S.  resources $6,303  88 

Balance  chargeable  to  state  mission  fund.  .  .$i,78o  66 

Or,  in  other  words,  the  Sunday  School  work  was 
short  of  self-sustentation  by  the  amount  of  the  balance 
chargeable  to  state  mission  funds. 

In  addition  to  the  Sunday  School  missionary 
work,  there  was  a  colportage  and  depository  work 
managed  and  conducted  by  Bro.  W.  L.  Boyer,  by  means 
of  which  many  pages  of  religious  tracts,  some  religious 
literature  in  more  permanent  form,  and  a  number  of 
Bibles  were  distributed  in  the  state. 

In  1892  the  state  mission  and  Sunday  School  board 
reported  as   follows:  "While  the  board   has   had  no 


268  Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

distinctive  Sunday  School  missionary  in  the  field,  all  the 
missionaries  have  been  charged  with  the  Sunday  School 
interest.  To  the  question,  Ts  the  board  doing  any 
Sunday  School  work  ?'  we  make  the  reply  of  the  follow- 
ing statistics  of  the  schools  in  our  mission  churches  and 
the  Sunday  Sthool  work  done  by  our  general  and  local 
missionaries :  Number  of  schools,  38 ;  number  of  teach- 
ers, 290;  number  of  average  attendance,  2,921;  num- 
ber of  schools  organized  by  general  and  local  mission- 
aries, 10;  number  of  schools  visited  by  general  and 
local  missionaries,  206;  number  of  addresses,  197." 

In  the  years  1893-4  and  5,  the  board  continued  the 
policy  of  carrying  on  the  Sunday  School  work  through 
the  missionaries  and  missionary  pastors  under  its  com- 
mission. In  1895  the  number  of  schools  organized 
through  this  instrumentality  was  13;  number  of  school 
addresses,  168.  Forty-two  associations  reported  732 
Sunday  Schools,  with  an  aggregate  enrollment  of  53,- 
012,  and  an  average  attendance  of  45,406.  Twenty 
associations  report  86  Sunday  Schools,  but  give  no  sta- 
tistics, while  eight  minutes  give  no  Sunday  School 
report. 

At  this  same  meeting,  a  committee  appointed  by 
request  of  the  board,  reported  through  its  chairman, 
Prest.  A.  K.  Yancy,  the  following  recommendation : 
"The  committee  recommend  the  appointment  of  two 
strong,  godly,  consecrated  men  as  Sunday  School  mis- 
sionaries, one  to  labor  chiefly  on  the  north  side,  and  the 
other  on  the  south  side  of  the  river ;  that  they  work  un- 
der the  general  supervision  of  the  State  Board  of  Mis- 
sions and  Sunday  Schools,  and  report  to  the  General 
Association  through  this  board.  We  further  recom- 
mend that  the  board  be  authorized  to  pay  these  mission- 
aries stipulated  salaries  sufficient  to  compensate  men 
suited  for  such  work,  and  that  the  missionaries  be  in- 
structed to  raise  on  their  fields  as  much  as  practicable 
toward  the  work  of  the  board." 


Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association.   -69 

In  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  resolution,  the 
board,  at  its  January  meeting  in  1896,  engaged  the  serv- 
ices of  Rev.  M.  L.  Bibb  for  the  north  side  of  the  Isl'xs- 
souri  river,  but  for  lack  of  prospect  for  sufficient  money, 
no  one  was  engaged  for  the  south  side  of  that  river. 
Bro.  Bibb  labored  diligently  and  ably.  He  delivered 
158  sermons  and  addresses;  visited  112  churches  and 
Sunday  Schools;  attended  12  Sunday  School  conven- 
tions; organized  8  Sunday  Schools;  and  witnessed  8 
conversions.  He  received  from  Sunday  Schools, 
$320.93,  and  from  churches  and  associations,  $260.50. 
His  traveling  and  incidental  expenses  amounted  to 
$137.75. 

He  w^as  paid  by  treasurer  of  General  Associa- 
tion $495.  The  salary  and  expense  account  together 
was  only  $57.32  in  excess  of  gatherings  from  the  field. 
This  was  financially  a  better  showing  for  work  and  re- 
sults than  is  common  for  Sunday  School  missionary 
labor  in  Missouri. 

Rev.  AI.  L.  Bibb  is  well  known  to  Missouri  Bap- 
tists as  one  of  their  intellectually  strong  and  religiously 
correct  preachers.  He  is  a  vigorous  preacher  and 
diligent  pastor,  doing  with  his  might  what  his  hands 
find  to  do.  As  a  writer  he  is  reckoned  one  of  the  clear- 
est and  most  impressive.  He  is  a  son  of  Rev.  M.  T. 
Bibb,  who  was  one  of  Missouri's  most  useful  and  ex- 
emplary ministers  of  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  He 
died  at  a  good  old  age  without  a  blemish  upon  his  name, 
leaving  to  his  children  a  godly  heritage. 

The  interested  reader  of  this  chapter  can  not  fail 
to  observe  that  the  Sunday  School  department  of  the 
evangelistic  enterprise  is  attended  with  no  small  occa- 
sion for  anxious  solicitude  to  those  who  are  engaged  in 
missionary  effort;  and  they  are  likely  to  conclude  with 
the  conviction  that  the  suggestion  of  the  beginning  of 
the  chapter,  that  the  prosperity  and  efficiency  of  Sab- 


370  Sunday  School  Work  of  General  Association. 

bath  Schools  is,  after  all,  with  the  pastors  of  the 
churches. 

This  chapter  has  been  compiled  and  written  from 
authentic  records,  more  as  a  convenient  and  reliable 
reference,  than  as  a  discussion  of  any  particular  theory, 
or  to  entertain  with  incident  or  personal  narrative. 
The  Sunday  School  is,  as  this  work  goes  to  press, 
deeply  engaging  the  thought  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion, and  it  is  hoped  that  the  record  history  here  thrown 
together  may  serve  a  convenient  and  useful  end. 

The  present  accomplished  and  efficient  correspond- 
ing secretary  of  the  General  Association,  Rev.  T.  L. 
Wist,  has  published  a  statistical  table  of  the  denomina- 
tion in  Missouri,  from  which  is  here  given  the  Sunday 
School  statistics :  Number  of  schools,  1,031 ;  number  of 
officers  and  teachers,  6,577;  number  of  scholars  en- 
rolled, 60,134;  average  attendance,  43,324;  Sunday 
School  contributions  for  the  year  closing  October,  1898, 
$22,357.68.  Out  of  seventy-five  district  associations 
there  are  but  eleven  that  fail  to  report  Sunday  Schools 
within  their  bounds.  Blue  River  Association  has  43 
Sunday  Schools,  the  largest  number  reported  for  any 
association.  This  association  includes  Kansas  City, 
and  is  composed  of  45  churches — leaving  only  two 
without  a  Sunday  School.  The  association  having  the 
smallest  number  of  Sunday  Schools  is  Camden  county; 
there  are  five  schools  reported  for  this  association. 
There  are  twenty-two  churches  in  the  association.  Texas 
County  Association  has  forty-one  churches  and  but  six 
Sabbath  Schools.  A  study  of  a  reliable  statistical  table 
will  indicate  the  fields  for  Sunday  School  missionary 
work. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CENTERS  OF  POPULATION. 

The  General  Association,  after  some  years  of 
doubting  hesitation  and  anxious  misgivings,  timidly 
ventured  to  look  after  the  salvation  of  souls  and  the  ex- 
pansion of  Christ's  Kingdom  in  the  centers  of  popula- 
tion. The  Association  was  conceived  and  brought 
forth  of  rural  thought  and  christian  enterprise.  In  its 
infancy  and  early  youth  it  did  not  venture  to  "go  to 
town''  for  its  annual  conferences  and  deliverances,  and 
its  efforts  at  aggressive  work  were  mainly  in  regions 
congenial  with  its  originators  and  origin.  Its  careful 
and  seemingly  tardy  invasion  of  the  strongholds  of  sin 
and  Satan  were  altogether  natural  and  not  without 
practical  excuse.  In  the  earlier  days  of  Missouri's  so- 
cial life,  as  in  all  other  parts  of  our  great  country,  the 
relation  of  town's  people  and  those  of  rural  districts 
were  not  the  most  cordial.  There  were  no  clearly 
marked  animosities,  but  the  country  people  did  not  wear 
"store  clothes"  every  day  in  the  week,  nor  were  their 
houses,  as  a  rule,  so  showy  and  well  furnished  as  those 
in  town.  For  these  and  other  reasons  the  country  peo- 
ple were  a  little  "shy"  of  their  more  pretentious  neigh- 
bors, and  some  of  the  scantily  endowed  town's  people 
really  thought  themselves  to  be  the  descendants  of  a 
better  Adam  than  were  the  "clod  hoppers."  This 
condition  very  naturally  engendered  a  trifling  spirit 
of  jealously  that  operated  somewhat  as  a  wall  of  sepa- 
ration. Besides  this,  the  Association  was  quite  limited 
in  resources  and  straitened  for  means  to  do  the  work 
demanded  by  the  rural  fields  of  religious  destitution. 

But  after  awhile  the  philosophy  of  missions  began 
to  impress  itself  upon  the  minds  of  the  leading  spirits 
of  the  Association. 

27l 


272  Centers  of  Population. 

Towns  and  cities  are  as  much  a  necessity  of  man's 
gregarious  instincts  as  is  the  well  known  and  recog- 
nized fact  of  social  interdependence.  It  goes  for  the  say- 
ing, that  individual  isolation  is  in  conflict  with  the  laws 
of  humian  life,  and  that  communities  of  individuals  are  a 
result  of,  and  forces  in  social  progress.  The  rural  dis- 
tricts would  be  put  to  great  disadvantage  without  "trade 
centers ;"  and  such  centers  would  be  in  sad  plight  with- 
out agricultural  products.  Exchange,  transformation 
and  transportation  of  products,  either  of  the  farm  or  the 
mill,  call  for  business  centers.  These  centers  become 
the  convenient  bases  of  financial  negotiations  and  the 
depositories  of  surplus  wealth.  These  facts  of  social 
life  naturally  lead  to  the  investment  of  the  centers  of 
business  with  an  influence  extending  beyond  corporate 
or  accidental  limit. 

With  the  facts  of  man's  social  constitution  and  re- 
sulting interdependence  in  the  affairs  of  secular  life, 
must  be  associated  the  other  fact  that  the  religion  of 
Jesus  Christ  is  a  practical  religion  taking  cognizance  of 
the  active  principles  of  human  nature,  and  is,  therefore, 
itself  a  social  system.  The  field  for  christian  activity 
and  usefulness  is  humanity.  Man  serves  God  just  to 
the  extent  that  he  religiously  does  his  duty  to  his  fel- 
low man.  To  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself  is  an  equal 
obligation  with  the  command  to  love  God.  "Do  good 
to  all  men"  is  the  summing  up  of  practical  Christianity, 
and  "bear  ye  one  another's  burdens"  is  the  fulfilling  of 
the  law.  It  is  impossible  to  eliminate  the  social  element 
from  Christianity.  To  recognize  the  significance  of  so- 
cial life  in  its  full  comprehensiveness  is  to  start  at  the 
basis  of  the  missionary  enterprise.  Any  other  start 
must  be  followed  by  an  imperfect  work  and  inadequate 
results. 

Social  influences,  though  resultant  of  secular  condi- 
tions, must  be  utilized  in  the  interests  of  Christianity. 
Aggregations  of  secular  forces — such  as  civic,  com- 


Centers  of  Population.  273 

mercial  and  financial  activities — have  a  strength  of  in- 
fluence about  commensurate  with  numbers,  pursuits, 
wealth  and  compactness  of  organization.  The  large 
city  is  more  influential  than  the  village.  The  village 
admits  this  by  borrowing  its  fashions  from  the  city,  and 
in  the  preference  given  to  metropolitan  newspapers. 
The  large  church  is  more  influential  than  the  small  one. 
The  visitor  to  the  city,  from  the  village  or  farm,  will,  as 
a  rule,  if  he  seeks  a  church  for  a  Sunday's  service,  pre- 
fer the  large  church,  thereby  admitting  its  influence 
over  him. 

The  thought  and  fashions  of  a  city  extend  to  rural 
districts  about  in  proportion  to  proximity  and  means  of 
communication  and  transportation.  The  influence  of 
urbane  upon  rural  populations  is  no  greater  in  giving 
taste  and  method  to  social  life  and  customs  to  trade  and 
commerce,  than  it  is  in  giving  character  and  color  to 
christian  life.  This  is  especially  true  since  city  and 
country  are  brought  practically  so  close  together  as  at 
the  present  time. 

Efforts  to  evangelize  the  world  should  be  governed 
by  the  fact  that  natural  laws  in  their  relation  to  and 
effect  upon  human  hfe  are  not  separate  from,  but  coop- 
erative with  the  laws  of  spiritual  life.  The  laws  of 
thought  are  natural,  but  the  thinking  should  be  brought 
under  the  dominion  and  direction  of  the  Spirit  of  God. 
The  social  element  of  human  life  is  that  natural  force 
with  which  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ  mostly  concerns 
itself  for  the  life  of  man  this  side  of  eternity.  As  the 
propagative  and  aggressive  economy  of  the  gospel  lies 
in  human  instrumentality  under  the  directing  agency  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  it  is  easily  understood  why  the  gospel 
takes  account  of  those  conditions  of  life  resultant  of  hu- 
man nature.  If  communities  are  the  outworking  of  the 
laws  of  life,  then  to  communities  must  the  gospel  go  for 
its  most  effective  instrumentality.  Hence  church  or- 
18 


274  Centers  of  Population. 

ganizations,  which  are  but  communities  of  believers 
brought  together  by  the  spiritual  guidance  of  social 
qualities  inherent  in  man. 

Christ  and  His  Apostles,  all  of  whom  were  mis- 
sionaries, recognized  the  force  of  social  law.  The  dis- 
ciples were  commanded  to  tarry  at  Jerusalem  until  the 
Pentecostal  manifestations  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  They 
were  not  to  be  endued  with  power  in  cloistered  seclu- 
sion, but  in  a  great  city  on  a  public  occasion  so  that 
there  would  be  witnesses  to  testify  abroad  the  wonder- 
ful things  concerning  Christ.  In  conformity  to  the 
same  idea,  the  principal  missionary  operations  of  the 
apostles  were  in  such  centers  of  population  as  Antioch, 
Ephesus,  Philippi,  Thessalonica,  Rome,  etc. 

Missionary  work  at  points  removed  from  centers 
of  population  is  not,  of  course,  to  be  neglected ;  but  the 
idea — all  too  prominent — that  missionary  work  means 
preaching  the  gospel  in  out-of-the-way  places  exclu- 
sively, has  no  warrant  in  the  scriptures,  and  has  in  no 
small  measure  heretofore  hindered  the  gospel.  From 
the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  General  Association 
down  to  the  present  there  have  been,  and  are,  good  breth- 
ren who  have  seriously  questioned  the  propriety  of  ap- 
propriating money  for  providing  for  the  preaching  of 
the  gospel  in  large  towns  and  cities.  This  opposition 
proceeds  from  a  failure  to  recognize  the  importance  to 
the  world  of  christianizing  the  centers  of  population; 
and  in  part  out  of  the  erroneous  notion  that  the  cities 
are  amply  able  to  attend  to  this  work  themselves.  It 
is  true  that  the  principal  wealth  of  a  nation  is  concen- 
trated in  its  cities ;  but  it  is  further  true  that,  these  same 
cities  are  the  haunts  of  extremest  poverty.  The  masses 
of  the  people  in  rural  districts  are  better  supplied  with 
this  world's  goods  than  the  masses  of  the  people  of  the 
cities — the  average  of  living  is  much  better  in  the  coun- 
try. 


Centers  of  Population.  275 

It  is  worthy  of  further  consideration  that,  while 
there  is  abundant  wickedness  in  the  agricultural  dis- 
tricts, the  cities  are  the  strongholds  of  iniquity.  There 
Satan's  seat  is.  The  great  mass  of  the  people  of  great 
cities  dwell  in  the  shades  of  the  frowning  ramparts  of 
the  Prince  of  the  power  of  the  air  that  works  in  the 
hearts  of  the  children  of  disobedience.  Temptations 
to  every  manner  of  vice  are  manifold  and  the  moral  at- 
mosphere debilitates  the  resistive  powers  of  the 
tempted.  More  than  this,  every  heretical  ism  known 
to  infidelity  finds  a  forcing  bed  and  nurturing  soil  in 
crowded  populations.  Certainly  it  is  true  that,  where 
the  gospel  is  needed  there  the  gospel  should  be  taken. 

Christian  people  in  cities  are  not  indifferent  to  the 
conditions  that  confront  them.  Some  of  the  fairest 
types  of  christian  character  and  noblest  examples  of 
christian  liberality  are  to  be  found  in  city  churches. 
The  country  churches  can  not  complain  of  the  absorp- 
tion of  state  mission  money  by  the  cities.  A  large  per- 
centage of  state  mission  contributions  come  from  the 
churches  of  cities  and  large  towns,  and  as  they  are  dis- 
posed to  do  state  mission  work  through  the  General 
Association,  it  is  but  fair  as  a  question  of  reciprocity 
that  the  General  Association  give  attention  to  city  mis- 
sion work.  But  this  is  not  the  chief  consideration.  The 
interests  of  humanity  and  the  glory  of  Christ  demand  it. 

The  young  people  of  the  rural  districts  are  drifting 
to  the  towns  and  cities.  Each  succeeding  year  shows 
an  increased  number  of  young  men  from  the  farms 
seeking  and  finding  employment  in  cities.  The  char- 
acter and  salvation  of  these  youths  are  to  be  looked  af- 
ter by  the  churches.  For  this  reason  city  churches 
should  be  upheld  and  prospered.  These  young  men 
help  to  give  character  to  the  influence  that  goes  out 
from  the  city  to  the  country.  The  country  owes  to 
itself  the  duty  of  ministering  to  the  religious  and  moral 
development  of  the  cities. 


276  Centers  of  Population. 

From  a  denominational  view  point,  the  importance 
of  city  mission  work  can  not  be  overestimated.  The 
personal  influence,  literature  and  general  characteris- 
tics of  a  great  city  are  silently  but  surely  impressed 
upon  the  people  of  contiguous  rural  districts.  This 
influence  goes  along  with  the  prestige  of  the  city;  it  is 
not  asserted ;  it  is  not  an  aim  of  the  city  people,  it  is  a 
natural  sequence  of  aggregated  social  potentialities. 

Notwithstanding  the  apparent  tardiness  of  the 
General  Association  to  direct  its  efforts  to  the  advance- 
ment of  Christianity  in  the  centers  of  population,  it  has 
come  up  to  the  measure  of  its  duty  in  this  regard  to  the 
extent  of  its  ability,  and  has  done  a  good — even  a  grand 
work.  It  is  at  once  interesting,  instructive  and  encour- 
aging to  pursue  the  history  of  this  branch  of  work  by 
the  Association.  It  was  not  until  1855  that  a  commit- 
tee was  appointed  to  report  to  the  Association  on 
"Aiding  feeble  churches."  That  committee  consisted 
of  John  Teasdale,  J.  H.  Keach  and  J.  F.  Smith.  For 
some  reason  the  records  do  not  show  that  this  commit- 
tee ever  reported.  In  1856,  a  committee  consisting  of 
W.  M.  Beh,  Joseph  Flood,  E.  I.  Owen  and  A.  T.  Hite 
was  appointed  for  the  same  purpose,  and  submitted  the 
following  report ;  "*  *  *  In  looking  over  our  state,  the 
sad  truth  forces  itself  upon  our  minds  that  there  is  a 
large  number  of  churches  of  our  denomination  not  only 
destitute  of  pastors,  but  even  of  occasional  preaching. 
Some  of  these,  no  doubt,  possess  the  means  of  support- 
ing themselves,  provided  suitable  ministers  could  be 
obtained.  Others  could  do  something  towards  sup- 
porting a  pastor.  But  a  very  large  proportion,  from  the 
fact  they  are  few  in  numbers  and  poor,  are  unable  to 
supply  themselves  at  all,  many  of  these  are  located  in 
populous  neighborhoods,  and  could  they  be  aided  for 
awhile  by  this  Association,  would,  doubtless,  become 
self-sustaining.  Your  committee  would  therefore  rec- 
ommend to  the  executive  board  the  importance  of  as- 


Centers  of  Population.  277 

sisting  such  churches  rather  than  pursue  the  former 
mode  of  having  an  occasional  sermon  preached  here  and 
there  at  the  discretion  of  the  evangeHst  employed,  and 
constituting  new  churches  which,  in  all  probability,  will 
be  left  to  wither  and  die  for  the  want  of  ministerial 
labor." 

It  is  intimated  in  the  foregoing  report  that  some 
churches  were  seeking  aid  from  the  Association,  that 
"could  do  something  towards  supporting  a  pastor,  but 
relied  wholly  on  outside  help."  x'Vpropos  to  such  cases 
is  the  language  of  the  committee  of  the  next  year  of 
which  Dr.  A.  P.  Williams  was  chairman : 

"An  able  bodied  man,  who  is  lazy  and  will  not 
work,  has  no  claim  upon  the  charity  of  his  neighbors. 
Hence  the  apostolic  maxim  is,  'If  a  man  will  not  work, 
neither  shall  he  eat.'  If  a  rich  man  should  send  his 
servants  to  cultivate  the  farm  of  a  man  who  was  able 
but  unwilling  to  cultivate  it,  it  would  be  upholding  and 
encouraging  that  man  in  his  laziness.  So  we  think  in 
regard  to  aiding  able  but  lazy  or  stingy  churches." 

In  1859  tl^s  committee  on  aid  to  feeble  churches, 
reported,  through  J.  S.  Green,  the  chairman,  "we  rec- 
ommend that  the  executive  board  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation be  directed  to  render  such  aid  to  feeble  churches 
located  at  important  points,  as  the  means  at  their  dis- 
posal will  justify." 

In  i860,  J.  W.  Warder,  chairman  of  like  commit- 
tee reported ;  "*  *  *  But  in  the  second  place  there  are 
churches  located  at  important  points  in  populous 
neighborhoods,  in  thriving  villages  or  cities,  situated  in 
important  and  growing  sections  of  our  state,  must  have 
aid,  or  their  existence  will  become  jeopardized.  If 
helped  through  the  crisis,  many  of  them  may  become 
self-supporting,  which  otherwise  may  succumb  to  the 
pressure." 

The  next  committee  on  this  subject  was  in  1866, 
with  John  Hill  Luther  as  chairman;  that  committee 


27S  Centers  of  Population. 

said:  "*  *  *  It  is  the  conviction  of  your  committee 
that  the  true  policy  is  to  aid  such  churches  only  as  will 
yield  returns  for  the  money  and  labor  expended,  and 
our  appropriations  should  be  made  with  the  view  of  se- 
curing the  greatest  measure  of  success.  Feeble  churches 
are  advised  to  consolidate  their  strength.  *  *  *  Your 
committee  would  call  the  attention  of  the  executive 
board  to  the  following  important  points :  St.  Louis, 
Mexico,  Boonville  and  Chillicothe." 

These  references  are  sufficient  to  indicate  the  ten- 
dency of  the  mission  work  of  the  Association  toward 
permanency  and  influence.  There  were  in  early  days, 
as  at  present,  brethren  who  regarded  the  General  As- 
sociation as  a  mere  supply  institution,  and  have  felt  that 
the  poverty  of  the  church  was  a  sufficient  plea  for  mate- 
rial aid,  overlooking  the  prime  consideration  of  all  mis- 
sionary enterprise,which  is  expansion — the  enlargement 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  Some  preachers  have  been 
recommended  to  the  board  for  appointment  as  mission- 
aries on  the  plea  that  they  were  poor  and  needy  with 
families  to  support.  Such  brethren  seem  not  to  con- 
sider that  the  General  Association  exists  for  the  pur- 
pose of  promoting  the  spread  of  divine  truth  and  not 
for  the  purpose  of  distributing  alms  to  the  needy.  A 
preacher  may  be  poor  and  morally  worthy,  and  yet  ut- 
terly unsuited  to  the  work  of  a  missionary.  To  feed 
and  clothe  the  poor  is  a  duty  and  a  great  privilege. 
But  such  charities  are  not  necessarily  in  the  line  of 
christian  progress,  in  the  sense  of  aggressiveness  and 
expansion. 

Before  the  deliverances  of  the  Association  on  the 
subject  of  aiding  churches  and  looking  after  centers  of' 
population,  the  board  had  made  a  start  in  that  direc- 
tion, and  it  was,  perhaps,  this  action  of  the  board  that 
called  forth  the  appointment  of  committees  for  informa- 
tion and  recommendations  to  the  Association.  It  ap- 
pears of  record  that  the  first  appropriation  of  money  by 


Colters  of  Population.  279 

the  board  for  city  missions  was  in  T847.  This  appro- 
priation was  in  aid  of  the  church  at  the  City  of  Jeffer- 
son, the  seat  of  the  state  government.  Rev.  W.  W.  Keep 
was  assiq-ned  by  the  board  to  this  struo-jrlin!^  interest  at 
a  most  important  center.  At  times,  the  proposition  to 
sustain  the  cause  at  the  state  capitol  seemed  a  vain  one 
and  the  undertaking  almost  without  hope  of  satisfac- 
tory results.  The  many  illustrations  of  faith  in  God 
that  christian  work  affords  indicate  its  superiority  to 
logic  and  its  indefinable  influence  on  the  purpose  and 
effort  of  the  faithful.  Many  a  christian  enterprise  has 
struggled  long  through  adverse  conditions  that  would 
have  suspended  or  finally  ended  a  secular  undertaking. 
Rev.  W.  J.  Patrick  was  induced  to  assume  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  church  at  Jefferson  in  1868.  In  the 
report  of  the  board  for  1869,  there  is  this  paragraph: 
"Bro.  W.  J.  Patrick  occupied  Jefferson  City,  the  capi- 
tal of  the  state,  a  very  important,  yet  one  of  the  hardest 
fields  in  the  state.  They  are  now  without  a  house  of 
worship,  but  struggling  hard  to  build  one;  have  pur- 
chased a  lot  favorably  located,  and  have  a  portion  of 
the  money  for  building.  The  little  band  has  passed 
through  severe  trials,  but  are  now  hopeful  and  strong 
in  faith."  Bro.  Patrick's  labors  in  Jefferson  City  were 
substantially  eft'ective.  While  resident  there  he  was 
made  chaplain  of  the  senate,  and  by  his  dignified,  cour- 
teous and  unobtrusive  bearing- won  the  highest  esteem 
of  senators.  Down  to  the  present  writing  Dr.  Patrick 
has  been  an  able  and  effective  pastor,  and  in  the  general 
enterprises  of  the  denomination  his  faithfulness  and  in- 
telligent devotion  have  gained  for  him  distinguished  in- 
fluence. As  a  close,  critical  and  progressive  student 
he  has  made  great  achievements  in  all  branches  of 
knowledge  relating  to  his  high  calling.  In  the  prepa- 
ration of  the  life  and  labors  of  Ex-Gov.  C.  H.  Hardin, 
to  which  work  he  was  invited  by  the  widow  of  the  dis- 
tinguished statesman,  he  has  rendered  an  invaluable 


28o  Centers  of  Population. 

service  to  the  public,  and  to  the  memory  of  a  useful 
christian  citizen. 

To  the  church  at  Jefferson  City  subsequent  appro- 
priations were  made  for  pastoral  sustentation.  Rev. 
T.  W.  Barrett  was  one  of  the  successors  to  Dr.  Patrick. 
He  toiled  faithfully  against  the  many  adverse  condi- 
tions incident  to  the  field,  until  he  was  called  to  the 
presidency  of  Stephens  College,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Ray  Palmer.  This  pastorate  was  of 
short  duration.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  T.  M. 
Johnston,  who  bears  the  full  name  of  his  father.  The 
elder  J.  T.  M.  Johnston  was  one  of  the  fast  friends 
of  the  General  Association  in  days  of  conflict  with 
anti-missionary  Baptists.  He  was  a  meek,  devout  and 
able  minister  of  the  New  Testament.  His  labors  and 
his  fortune  were  at  the  service  of  his  Lord  and  Master. 
Education  and  missions  appealed  not  in  vain  to  his 
heart,  his  mind  and  his  money.  As  a  citizen  he  ranked 
with  the  first. 

Dr.  J.  T.  M.  Johnston  is  a  worthy  son  of  a  worthy 
sire.  He  is  a  native  of  Boone  county,  Missouri.  In 
early  life  he  entered  upon  the  pursuits  of  secular  life  as 
a  merchant.  Success  soon  rewarded  his  enterprising 
spirit  and  good  name.  While  yet  in  his  youth  he  be- 
came an  influential  man  in  his  native  county.  While 
he  never  held  nor  sought  civil  office  he  attained  a  high 
degree  of  political  influence,  and  this  without  compro- 
mising the  proprieties  of  a  christian  gentleman.  His 
fine  physique,  his  genial  dignity  and  generous  heart 
made  him  a  universal  favorite.  In  early  manhood, 
with  fortune  and  secular  distinction  beckoning  him  on- 
ward, he  was  greatly  troubled  by  convictions  of  duty 
to  preach  the  gospel.  Yielding  when  he  could  no 
longer  be  disobedient  to  the  heavenly  call,  he  left  his 
business  in  the  hands  of  his  partners  and  entered  the 
Southern  Baptist  Theological  Seminary,  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  Completing  his  theological  course,  he  was 


Centers  of  Population.  281 

called,  at  the  suggestion  of  President  Barrett,  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  church  at  the  state  capital.  The 
church  was  still  feeble.  The  General  Association  con- 
tinued its  aid.  The  house  of  worship  was  inferior  to 
others  in  the  city,  badly  located  and  uncomely.  Pastor 
Johnston  entered  upon  his  work  with  a  threefold  pur- 
pose :  a  self-sustaining  church,  an  enlarged  and  trained 
membership,  and  a  new  house  of  worship.  To  the  ac- 
complishment of  these  ends  he  brought  to  bear  his  in- 
domitable energy,  his  business  tact,  his  faith  and  his 
personal  fortune.  His  success  was  almost  phenome- 
nal. He  did  not  fail  in  either  of  his  threefold  aims.  In 
a  few  years  a  self-sustaining  church  of  about  four  hun- 
dred members  was  occupying  an  elegant  and  ample 
house  of  worship.  Not  only  this,  but  the  church  soon 
became  a  liberal  contributor  to  state  missions  and  every 
other  good,  christian  work. 

Dr.  Johnston's  resignation  from  the  capital  church 
was  regretted  by  all  the  people  of  the  city.  In  189?, 
when  he  felt  called  of  God  to  accept  the  call  to  the  pas- 
torate of  the  Delmar  Avenue  church,  St.  Louis,  and  the 
time  came  for  his  removal  to  the  great  metropolis,  the 
people  of  Jefferson  City  met  in  mass  in  the  chamber  of 
representatives  in  the  state  house  and  gave  him  a  fare- 
well ovation.  Christians,  and  christian  ministers  of 
all  denominations,  state  officials  and  citizens  generally 
were  present  to  express  their  affection  for  the  genial 
preacher  and  enterprising  citizen.  The  long  and  tedi- 
ous and  often  discouraging  work  at  Jefferson  with  the 
ultimate  success,  fully  vindicates  the  wisdom  of  that 
missionary  work  that  judiciously  gives  aid  to  feeble 
churches  at  centers  of  population  and  influence. 

It  is  related  by  Deacon  T.  M.  James,  of  Kansas 
City,  that,  years  ago,  before  he  was  a  member  of  the 
executive  board  of  the  General  Association,  he,  in  per- 
son, made  application  with  urgent  appeal  for  an  appro- 
priation to  mission  work  in  Kansas  Citv.     The  board 


282  Centers  of  Population. 

declined  to  make  the  appropriation  on  the  ground  01 
insufficient  treasury,  and  that  the  City  of  Jefferson  was 
a  much  more  important  field,  as  there  was  no  probabil- 
ity that  Kansas  City  would  "ever  be  much  of  a  place." 
The  future  demonstrated  that  even  a  mission  board  can 
not  tell  what  may  be  on  the  morrow.  Nevertheless 
there  are  reasons  for  believing  that  a  good  providence 
was  guiding  the  Lord's  servants. 

The  church  at  the  capital  now  enjoys  the  pastoral 
services  of  Rev.  W.  C.  Taylor,  lately  to  this  state  from 
Virginia.  His  scholarly  sermons,  thoroughly  evan- 
gelical thought,  and  pastoral  diligence  have  won  to 
him  the  high  esteem  of  his  congregation  and  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  There  is  every  reason  to  hope  that 
henceforth  the  capital  city  church  will  be  a  tower  of 
strength  to  the  denomination. 

The  beautiful  and  prosperous  city  of  Hannibal, 
whose  eastern  line  is  washed  by  the  waters  of  the 
"Great  River,"  was  the  next  important  center  to  receive 
the  aid  of  the  General  Association.  In  1848,  when  the 
General  Association  was  in  session  at  Big  Lick  church, 
in  Cooper  county,  an  appropriation  was  made  to  aid  the 
church  at  Hannibal.  A  Brother  Granger  was  the  mis- 
sionary pastor.  The  struggle  at  Hannibal  was  a  severe 
and  prolonged  one.  Its  pastoral  changes  have  been 
somewhat  frequent.  But  each  incoming  incumbent 
found  in  Rev.  W.  C.  Busby,  who  on  account  of  ill 
health  retired  from  that  pastorate  years  ago,  a  warm 
friend  and  sympathizing  helper.  The  faith  and  per- 
sistent purpose  of  a  devoted  membership,  ever  ready  to 
offer  their  worldly  possessions  in  the  interests  of  spir- 
itual progress,  has  made  this  one  of  the  strong  churches 
of  the  state,  and  from  it — the  First  or  Fifth  Street 
church,  has  gone  out  a  colony  now  aided  by  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  The  original  church  has  for  its  pas- 
tor the  gifted  Everett  Gill,  whose  eminent  qualification 


Colters  of  Population.  283 

for  so  important  a  charge  gives  assurance  of  continued 
prosperity. 

In  1850  or  '5 1, while  the  masterly  and  honored  J.  B. 
Jeter,  D.  D.,  was  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  church, 
St.  Louis,  he  threw  his  energy  and  wisdom  into  the 
work  of  church  extension  in  the  city.  At  that  time  the 
Second  was  the  only  Baptist  church  in  the  city.  Dr.  Je- 
ter's desire  and  efforts  to  enlarge  the  Baptist  represen- 
tation in  the  city  were  not  favorably  considered  by 
some  of  the  leading  mernbers  of  the  church.  These 
succeeded  in  making  it  more  agreeable  to  Dr.  Jeter's 
refined  taste  and  sensibilities  to  retire  from  the  pastor- 
ate than  to  continue.  He  resigned  the  charge  of  the 
church  and  returned  to  Richmond,  Virginia.  But  not 
until  he  had  succeeded  in  some  good  measure  in  secur- 
ing church  expansion  in  the  growing  city.  If  Dr.  Je- 
ter's wise  and  beneficent  policy  had  received  the  sympa- 
thy and  cooperation  it  deserved,  the  Baptists  of  St. 
Louis  would,  doubtless,  be  stronger  to-day  than  they 
are.  Nevertheless  his  efforts  were  rewarded  by  the 
founding  of  the  Third  and  the  Fourth  Baptist  churches. 
The  Third  now  the  strongest  and  most  useful  church  in 
the  state. 

In  1 85 1  the  executive  board  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation made  an  appropriation  for  pastoral  support  at 
the  Third  church.  Rev.  Joseph  Walker  was  the  mis- 
sionary pastor.  The  feeble  health  of  this  venerable 
preacher,  and  that  of  his  family,  made  his  work  diffi- 
cult, and  in  some  degree  inefficient.  He  was  succeeded 
bv  Rev.  John  Teasdale,  a  brother  of  Deacon  James  H. 
Teasdale,  who  from  the  time  of  the  constitution  of  the 
church  until  his  death  was  a  faithful  and  influential 
christian  and  courteous  and  highly  respected  gentleman. 
His  services  to  the  church  were  efficient  and  indeed  in- 
valuable. Rev.  John  Teasdale  met  an  untimely  and 
frightful  death,  by  the  falling  down  of  a  railroad 
bridge  that  spanned  the  Gasconade  river.     The  Mis- 


284  Centers  of  Population. 

souri  Pacific  railroad  had  just  been  opened  for  traffic, 
and  g^ve  a  passenger  excursion  to  Jefiferson  City. 
Many  eminent  citizens,  gratified  at  the  opening  of  the 
new  road,  went  on  the  excursion.  As  the  train  was  on 
the  bridge  it  gave  way  and  many  of  the  passengers 
were  severely  injured,  and  quite  a  number,  among  them 
the  lamented  Teasdale,  were  killed  outright.  Mr. 
Teasdale  left  a  large  family,  one  of  his  sons,  A.  Salmon 
Teasdale,  is  an  exemplary  and  useful  member  of  the 
Delmar  Avenue  church ;  other  descendants  of  the  hon- 
ored minister  are  members  of  the  Third  church. 

This  church  has  had  in  the  pastorate  J.  V.  Scho- 
field,  W.  Pope  Yeaman,  Geo.  A.  Lofton,  John  P.  Green, 
W.  R.  L.  Smith  and  at  present  the  accomplished  orator 
and  vigorous  thinker.  Dr.  R.  P.  Johnston. 

The  Third  church,  which  is  in  a  sense  a  monument 
to  the  wisdom  and  usefulness  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion, is  now  a  mother  of  churches.  It  has  always  en- 
couraged church  extension  in  St.  Louis,  and  has  been 
generous  in  contributions  to  state  mission  work  in  other 
parts  of  the  state,  and  to  general  home  and  foreign  mis- 
sions and  to  education.  But  for  this  church  the  Bap- 
tist Sanitarium  in  St.  Louis  would  not  have  been 
founded.  This  institution  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  be- 
nevolent and  enterprising  spirit  of  W.  H.  Mayfield, 
M.  D.  The  chief  church  that  has  gone  out  from 
the  Third  is  the  Delmar  Avenue,  now  comfortably  and 
elegantly  housed  in  the  "west  end,"  the  popular  and 
prosperous  section  of  the  great  city.  This  colony  from 
the  Third  has  sustained  itself  from  the  start — founded 
in  1 877,  by  the  author  of  this  book. 

The  Fourth,  and  other  churches  in  St.  Louis  have 
had  the  fostering  care  of  the  General  Association,  so 
that  since  1851,  the  number  of  Baptist  churches  in  that 
great  metropolis  has  increased  from  one  to  fourteen. 
Had  there  been  united  and  cooperating  church  exten- 
sion effort  in  the  citv,  there  might  now  have  been  not 


Centers  of  Population.  385 

less  than  twenty-five  self-sustaining  Baptist  churches. 
But  the  oldest  of  the  existing  churches  has  never  fa- 
vored colonization  but  has  cherished  the  theory  of  one 
grand  mother  cathedral  church  having  oversight  of  sub- 
sidiary and  dependent  mission  stations. 

St.  Joseph,  the  staunch,  conservative  and  enlight- 
ened city  of  the  northwest  section  of  the  state,  was  the 
object  of  the  attention  of  the  General  Association  in 
that  early  period  when  the  present  site  of  the  city  was 
familiarly  known  as  the  "Black  Snake  Hills."  The 
first  church  of  that  city — one  of  the  strongest  churches 
in  the  state — was  in  its  early  days  assisted  by  the  Gen- 
eral Association.  One  of  its  leading  members,  R.  E. 
Turner,  Esq.,  is  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
William  Jewell  College,  and  an  active  and  influential 
member  of  the  General  Association.  The  church  now 
occupies  one  of  the  best  church  houses  in  the  state,  and 
has  the  able  ministrations  of  pastor  J.  Ernest  Cook. 
Far  back — in  the  '50s,  this  church  had  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  now  venerable  and  honored  Joshua  Hick- 
man. While  the  author  of  this  book  was  correspond- 
ing secretary,  a  mission  was  founded,  under  the  auspi- 
ces of  the  General  Association.  It  was  soon  organized 
into  a  church  with  Dr.  E.  S.  Dulin  as  missionary  pastor. 
Subsequently,  Rev.  N.  R.  Pittman  was  induced  to  un- 
dertake the  work.  Under  his  administration,  a  new 
house  of  worship  was  erected  near  Pattee  Park,  and 
the  name  of  the  church  changed  to  Pattee  Park  Bap- 
tist church.  In  1895  it  was  the  pleasure  of  the  General 
Association  to  hold  its  sessions  in  the  capacious  home 
of  this  one  of  its  daughters.  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Lawless  is 
the  devoted  and  self-denying  pastor,  applying  every 
energy  to  the  further  development  of  this  interesting 
and  important  church.  Savanna  Street  church,  in  the 
same  city,  is  another  child  of  the  General  Association, 
as  also  yet  another  mission. 


2Su  Centers  of  Population. 

At  Kansas  City,  the  General  Association,  in  coop- 
eration with  the  Blue  River  Association  and  the  Kan- 
sas City  Baptist  Union,  has  done  a  work  happily  dem- 
onstrating the  worth  of  state  mission  work.  In  1884 
the  state  mission  board  reported  to  the  General  Asso- 
ciation as  follows :  "Take  again  the  mission  at  Kansas 
City.  Three  years  ago  the  board  of  state  missions  in- 
structed the  corresponding  secretary  to  respond  to  a 
request  from  that  city  to  consider  the  propriety  of  es- 
tablishing a  mission  there.  It  was  manifest  that  the 
two  Baptist  churches  in  the  city  were  not  equal  to  the 
demands  for  church  extension  in  that  city  of  marvelous 
growth.  As  a  result  of  the  conference  between  our 
corresponding  secretary  and  the  mission  board  of  Blue 
River  Association,  a  mission  was  established.  It  has 
been  a  great  struggle  to  maintain  the  mission,  but  it  has 
been  sustained,  and  under  the  labors  of  Rev.  W.  T. 
Campbell,  missionary,  the  mission  has  grown  into  a 
church,  of  which  Brother  Campbell  is  pastor.  Now 
the  little  church  of  sixty  members  is  working  faithfully 
with  full  hope  and  prospect  of  prosperity.  They  have 
regular  services  twice  every  Sunday,  a  Sabbath  School 
with  an  average  attendance  of  no,  and  weekly  prayer- 
meetings.  They  have  secured  an  eligible  lot  on  Ninth 
street,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  city,  situated  at  least 
one  mile  from  the  nearest  Baptist  church,  and  in  a  part 
of  the  city  that  is  rapidly  improving  with  substantial 
and  elegant  buildings.  This  lot  has  been  paid  for,  and 
a  substantial  and  beautiful  chapel  is  in  course  of  erec- 
tion, which  the  pastor  expects  to  have  completed  and 
paid  for  before  the  winter  begins.  This  outgrowth  of 
the  mission,  began  three  years  ago,  demands  and  is 
entitled  to  the  sympathy  and  aid  of  every  Baptist  in  the 
state." 

This  mission  is  now  the  Olive  Street  church.  The 
increase  in  numbers  has  been  encouraging.  They  oc- 
cupy a  prominent  place  in  the  city.     Bro.  Campbell's 


Centers  of  Population.  287 

work  and  patience  and  sacrifice  have  not  been  in  vain  in 
the  Lord.  The  OHve  Street  church  now  enjoys  the 
pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  John  R.  Brown,  a  young  man 
of  rare  ability. 

Since  the  formation  of  Olive  Street  church  from 
a  mission,  other  missions  have  grown  up  and  re- 
ceived the  fostering  care  of  the  General  Association; 
South  Park,  Tabernacle,  Emanuel,  William  Jewell, 
Centropolis,  Leeds,  Elmwood,  German,  and  perhaps 
others. 

Deacon  T.  M.  James  has  lived  to  see  Kansas  City 
become  "much  of  a  place."  But  whatever  may  be  his 
innocent  pride  in  the  growth  of  his  city  from  tMO  or 
thrte  insignificant  cabins  about  "West  Port  Landing." 
into  the  second  city  of  the  state,  with  its  200,000  peopte, 
ard  mighty  prospective  enlargement,  he  has  a  mucii 
gt  cater  consolation  in  seeing  the  realization  of  his  laug 
cherished  desires  and  untiring  efforts  for  the  extension 
of  the  Baptist  cause  in  that  city  of  almost  fabulous 
growth.  One  energetic  and  purposeful  and  faithful 
layman  can  do  wonders  for  Christ.  It  is  not  contended 
here,  nor  does  Deacon  James  claim  that  he  has  built  up 
the  loved  cause  in  Kansas  City.  But  it  so  happens  that 
he  who  writes  this  book  can  testify  from  long  personal 
knowledge  that  no  other  one  man  has  been  used  of 
God  as  has  Deacon  James  in  giving  Baptists  a  favorable 
showing  in  the  city  of  his  home.  He  has  had  colabor- 
ers  among  the  laymen,  but  these,  a  Shouse,  a  Wornall, 
a  Lyford  and  others  have  gone  to  their  reward.  A 
Peak  and  a  Ferguson  and  others  are  left  to  uphold  the 
hands  of  this  Father  in  Israel,  who  ceases  not  to  work. 
For  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  has  regularly 
attended  the  meetings  of  the  state  board,  and  is  as  ever 
ready  to  vote  help  to  other  points  as  to  his  own  city. 
He  has  been  honored  by  his  brethren  with  the  position 
of  assistant  moderator  of  the  General  Association,  a 
position  which  he  honored  by  his  modesty,  dignity  and 


28S  Centers  of  Population. 

aptness  whenever  called  to  duty.  As  a  member  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  William  Jewell  College,  he  has 
been  diligent  as  a  counsellor,  and  generous  with  his 
fortune.  Useful  men  are  the  diadems  in  the  crown  of 
the  King  of  kings. 

Springfield  in  the  long  ago  was  a  field  for  the  at- 
tention and  aid  of  the  General  Association.  The  early- 
days  of  the  First  church,  now  blessed  by  the  pastoral 
services  of  Dr.  Skilman  needed  and  obtained  the  help 
of  the  state  mission  fund.  Other  interests  have  been 
originated  and  aided  by  the  same  instrumentality,  so 
that  now  the  metropolis  of  the  southwest  has  its  several 
instead  of  one  Baptist  church. 

That  thriving  church  in  Mexico,  in  Audrain  county, 
is  another  living  witness  to  the  wisdom  of  nourishing 
churches  at  centers  of  population.  In  i860,  Rev.  J.  E. 
Welch  writes  to  the  board  under  date  of  April  i7 :  "As 
three  months  have  passed  and  gone  since  I  last  wrote 
you,  I  suppose  I  ought  to  report  progress.  Things  at 
Mexico  remain  about  as  they  were  when  you  were  there 
last.  The  brethren  are  again  talking  of  making  an 
effort  to  build  a  house  of  worship.  Mexico  is  a  hard 
field.  The  cause  has  been  mangled  by  imprudent 
youth,  and  the  board  must  make  up  their  minds  to  'hold 
on  to  it' for  several  years,  or  they  may  as  well  give  it  up 
at  once."  He  writes  again  July  13 :  "Here  I  have 
been  for  a  week  laboring  for  the  folks.  We  have  $1,- 
500  subscribed  for  a  house  of  worship.  To-day  I  have 
been  looking  out  for  a  lot,  seeing  workmen  and  drawing 
plans,  etc."  Again,  in  1861,  the  board  says:  "Church 
at  Mexico — Eld.  James  E.  Welch  pastor  to  the  seven- 
teenth of  April,  at  which  time  he  resigned,  writes,  the 
church  is  without  a  house  of  worship,  had  commenced 
building,  but  have  for  the  present  given  it  over.  Thinks 
that  but  little  good  can  be  done  at  Mexico  without  a 
house,  *  *  *  intimates  that  the  church  is  not  alto- 
gether at  peace  among  themselves."     No  doubt  that,  in 


Centers  of  Population.  289 

1861   there  were  factions,   frictions  and  alienations — 
those  were  trying  times. 

In  1868.  the  board  was  "holding-  on"  at  Mexico. 
Bro.  S.  A.  Beauchamp — an  able  and  faithful  minister 
of  the  New  Testament — was  missionary  pastor.  He 
reports :  "This  is  an  important  field,  surrounded  by 
strong  opposition,  has  one  house  of  w^orship,  a  union 
prayer  meeting  and  Sabbath  School.  Have  preaching 
two  Sabbaths  in  each  month,  and  now  have  forty-five 
members."  There  appears  no  further  reference  to 
Mexico  as  a  mission  station.  The  amount  paid  for  this 
point,  as  appears  from  the  treasurer's  report  for  1868, 
was  $156.  What  had  been  appropriated  does  not  ap- 
pear. 

In  the  summer  or  autumn  of  18T0  the  writer  vis- 
ited Mexico  for  the  first  time.  This  was  to  preach  the 
dedicatory  sermon  of  a  very  neat  and,  for  the  time,  a 
sufficiently  capacious  house  of  worship,  paid  for;  S.  A. 
Beauchamp  was  then  pastor.  That  house  has  been 
torn  away  to  make  room  for  a  more  modern  and  ca- 
pacious house.  This  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
A.  E.  Rogers.  The  present  pastor,  successor  to  Bro. 
Rogers,  is  Rev.  N.  R.  Pittman.  His  pulpit  work  is  of 
a  high  order;  he  is  tactful  and  enterprising  as  a  pastor, 
and  finds  time  to  interest  thousands  of  readers  by  his 
"Fragments"  in  the  columns  of  the  Central  Baptist,  a 
vigorous  and  chaste  and  popular  Baptist  journal  pub- 
lished weekly  at  St.  Louis. 

Perhaps  it  is  not  transgressing  the  bounds  of  prob- 
ability to  suggest  that  but  for  the  Baptist  church  at 
Mexico,  Hardin  College  would  never  have  been 
founded  there.  If  this  be  so,  how  inestimable  the  aid 
rendered  the  church  by  the  General  Association ! 

It  is  not  needful  to  go  further  with  detailed  illus- 
trations from  the  records.  Many  other  churches  at 
centers  of  population  have  been  either  originated  or 


290  Centers  of  Population. 

helped,  or  both,  by  the  General  Association.  A  few  of 
the  many  will  now  be  given,  in  further  confirmation  of 
the  value  of  work  at  centers  of  population:  Warrens- 
burg — now  having  the  pastoral  services  of  the  talented 
and  studious  Frank  Y.  Campbell,  A.  M.  Fulton,  with 
Dr.  B.  G.  Tutt  as  pastor.  Boonville„with  the  scholarly 
and  devoted  C.  M.  Truex;  Kirksville,  with  the  able 
preacher  and  vigorous  pastor  W.  A.  Simmons;  Joplin, 
where  the  genial  and  efficient  pastor  Milford  Riggs  is 
to  welcome  the  next  meeting  of  the  Association;  Ma- 
con City,  where  the  sturdy  and  thoughtful  H.  E.  Truex 
ably  ministers  as  pastor ;  and  these  others :  Louisiana, 
LaGrange,  Chillicothe,  Weston,  Canton,  Marshall, 
Shelbina,  Plattsburg,  Memphis,  Tipton,  Clinton,  Inde- 
pendence, Montgomery  City,  Cameron,  Versailles, 
Fredericktown,  Charlestown,  St.  Charles,  Poplar  Bluff, 
Knobnoster,  Rich  Hill,  Brookfield,  Webb  City,  Har- 
risonville,  Trenton,  West  Plains,  California,  Montrose, 
El  Dorado  Springs,  La  Plata,  Appleton  City,  Gallatin, 
Albany,  Cape  Girardeau,  Maryville,  Lebanon,  Marsh- 
field,  Milan,  etc. 

This  list  could  be  much  more  than  doubled,  but  this 
suffices. 

If  the  student  of  state  missions  will  care  to  take 
the  pains  to  consult  the  carefully  detailed  reports  of 
treasurer  Guthrie,  he  will  be  entertainingly  impressed 
by  the  fact  that  state  mission  contributions  come  largely 
— in  the  main  part  in  fact — from  churches  that  have 
grown  up  under  the  fostering  care  of  the  General  As- 
sociation. He  will  find  the  same  to  be  true  of  con- 
tributions to  all  other  missionary  enterprises,  to  educa- 
tion and  to  general  benevolences.  Such  a  discovery 
puts  beyond  all  question  the  almost  supreme  importance 
of  maintaining  a  general  organization  from  which  goes 
forth  a  moulding  and  inspiring  influence  in  behalf  of 
progressive  Christianity. 


Centers  of  Population.  291 

Another  conclusion  will  impress  itself  upon  such  a 
student — the  Baptists  of  Missouri  would  not  have  been 
what  they  are  but  for  the  work  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion. 

Such  an  examination  reveals  the  fact  that  the  be- 
neficent hand  of  the  General  Association  has  been  ex- 
tended to  every  quarter  and  to  every  section  of  the  state. 
The  General  /Association  essays  to  do,  without  partial- 
ity, state  mission  work. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  PRESS. 

The  question  of  utilizing  the  press  in  the  interest 
of  progressive  Christianity  received  the  attention  of  the 
Missouri  Baptist  General  Association  at  an  early  day  in 
its  history.  While  many  people  east  of  the  great  river 
and  remote  from  it  were  enjoying  their  conceits,  and 
thinking  of  the  Missourians,  when  they  deigned  to 
think  of  them  at  all,  as  a  semi-heathen  and  untutored 
community  of  "backwoods"  adventurers,  the  Missouri- 
ans were  intelligently  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foun- 
dations of  a  social  system  upon  which  is  assuredly  ris- 
ing the  superstructure  that  is  to  mark  the  west  as  the 
seat  of  empire.  It  is  a  part  of  the  economy  of  the 
mind-world  that  in  the  struggles  of  adversity  and  af- 
fliction men  are  often  building  wiser  than  they  know. 
Their  successors,  reaping  the  harvests  of  early  sowing, 
are  too  inclined  to  flatter  themselves  that  their  wisdom 
and  might  begot  the  opportunities  and  advantages  they 
enjoy.  It  may  be  well  that  the  inheritors  of  an  ad- 
vanced civilization  are  unmindful  of  their  indebtedness 
to  pioneers  whose  manner  of  life  is  a  thing  of  ridicule 
to  their  snobbish  inheritors.  The  opulent  descendants 
of  scrap-iron  mongers  and  coonskin  dealers  turn  with 
scorn  from  the  men  who  are  employed  as  their  ancestors 
were.  Nevertheless,  it  must  ever  be  as  it  has  ever 
been :  Society's  obscure  toilers  are  the  world's  social 
benefactors. 

The  lone  missionary,  with  meager  wardrobe  and 
primitive  modes  of  conveyance,  penetrating  trackless 
forests  and  traversing  wide  untenanted  prairies,  shelter- 
ing for  the  night  beneath  the  hospitable  clap-board 
roofs  of  pioneer  cabins  and  preaching  in  forest  shades, 

292 


The  Press.  393 

and  diminutive  log  school  houses  and  rude  barns, 
opened  up  the  way  to  comfortable  pastorates  for  tailor 
attired  pastors.  A  little  band  of  rural  Baptists  gath- 
ered in  a  little  meeting  house  where  primitive  farmers 
assembled  once  a  month  for  worship,  laid  in  tears  the 
foundation  of  an  organization  that  has  more  than 
helped  to  supply  our  towns  and  cities  with  churches  and 
church  houses. 

Of  the  same  character  is  the  history  of  Baptist 
periodical  publications  in  Missouri.  Nothing  but  an 
intelligent  perception  of  the  power  of  the  press  upon 
individual  thought  and  social  conditions  can  excel  in 
interest  a  history  of  the  efforts  of  Missouri  Baptists  to 
establish  a  denominational  journal.  The  councils,  the 
struggles,  the  attempts  and  the  failures ;  the  sacrifices 
and  ultimate  permanent  success  of  a  persistent  ef- 
fort illustrate  the  force  of  that  mystic  principle  so  vital 
to  christian  life  and  enterprise — simple  faith  in  God's 
purpose  to  care  for  the  Kingdom  of  the  Son  of  His  love. 

The  progress  of  society  evolves  from  preexisting 
and  current  conditions  changes  in  mental  habit  and 
sources  of  influence  on  life  that  Christianity  can  not  af- 
ford to  ignore.  Truth  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day 
and  forever,  but  methods  and  conditions  of  mental 
awakening  and  intellectual  improvement  change  with 
the  changes  effected  by  the  progress  of  a  material  civil- 
ization. While  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blissful  God 
is  and  must  ever  be  intrinsically  and  essentially  the 
same  under  all  conditions  of  human  life,  yet  it  would 
be  contrary  to  the  laws  of  thought  and  the  suggestions 
of  Apostolic  teaching  and  example  not  to  adjust  the 
methods  of  unfolding  the  truth  to  conditions  of  time 
and  place.  The  New  Testament  pastoral  epistles  are 
examples  of  this  law  of  adaptation. 

The  time  was  when  the  popular  mind  was  depend- 
ent on  public  oration  for  information  and  mental  grasp 
of  all  subjects  and  questions  in  which  the  public  was  in- 


294  The  Press. 

terested.  Men  could  know  but  little  of  the  institutions 
of  government  or  of  religion,  but  little  of  philbsophy 
and  the  principles  of  economics  except  as  they  were 
taught  by  the  acceptable  and  accepted  orators  of  the 
time.  That  day  has  passed  not  to  return.  The  press 
has  in  a  large  measure  supplanted  the  rostrum.  Not 
that  the  pulpit  has  been  supplanted  nor  its  necessity  re- 
moved. It  must  always  be  that  by  the  "foolishness  of 
preaching,"  God  will  save  them  that  believe.  But  while 
this  is  true,  it  is  an  accomplished  fact  that  printed 
thought  sways  the  mind- world. 

That  the  present  is  a  reading  age,  none  will  ques- 
tion. That  the  printed  page  is  more  permanent  and 
influential  than  public  speech  is  evidenced  by  every  in- 
telligent consciousness.  Even  a  flippant  and  falacious 
paragraph  in  a  newspaper  will  gain  more  credence  than 
the  profoundest  utterance  of  truth  from  the  rostrum 
or  the  sacred  desk.  Not  only  is  this  so,  but  in  the 
familiar  lingo  of  the  period,  the  press  has  "come  to 
stay."  r      1 

The  unmistakable,  even  manifest  power  of  the 
printed  page  upon  the  current  age,  is  evidenced  in  the 
aptness  of  children  to  grasp  the  significance  of  subjects, 
facts  and  questions  which  but  a  comparatively  short 
time  in  the  past  were  beyond  their  power  of  perception. 
The  close  observer  can  not  have  failed  to  observe  the  dif- 
ference in  the  intellectual  habit  and  range  of  thought  of 
the  children  of  the  present,  as  compared  with  the  limited 
information  and  narrow  range  of  reflection  of  the  chil- 
dren of  a  half  century  in  the  past.  The  youth — even 
the  child — of  to-day  is  as  eager  for  the  newspaper  or 
the  magazine  as  was  the  adult  twenty-five  years  ago. 

In  all  efforts  for  the  evangelization  of  an  enlight- 
ened and  progressive  people  the  current  avenues  to 
thought  and  feeling  must  be  hunted  out  and  followed. 
To  do  othenvise  would  be  to  ignore  the  laws  of  thought 
and  to  defy  the  indications  of  providence.    Christianity 


The  Press.  295 

has  grasped  this  great  truth,  and  the  christian  intelli- 
gence of  the  age  has  seized  upon  the  press  as  the  great- 
est engine  for  driving  the  wheels  of  christian  progress. 
In  this  she  has  but  been  obedient  to  the  calls  of  conse- 
crated common  sense  as  it  responds  to  the  Apostolic 
truth :  "All  things  are  yours,  and  ye  are  Christ's,  and 
Christ  is  God's." 

Furthermore,  Christianity  is  not  unmindful  that 
the  press  is  as  powerful  for  evil  as  it  is  for  good.  The 
christian  press  must  seek  to  counteract  whatsoever  is  of 
evil  in  the  secular  press,  as  much  as  to  propagate  and 
enforce  the  truth.  The  secular  press — especially  the 
daily  and  weekly  and  monthly  issues — are  admitted  fac- 
tors in  the  forces  that  uplift  and  advance  society.  Nev- 
ertheless, it  is  none  the  less  true  that  for  much  of  the 
immorality,  sin,  vice  and  crime  with  which  the  land  is 
afflicted  must  be  laid  at  the  door  of  the  same  mighty 
agency. 

The  evils  of  secular  literature  are  not  limited  to  the 
periodical  press.  Books  and  pamphlets  written  for 
money,  and  much  of  printed  stuff  in  leaflet  form  for  the 
dissemination  of  infidelity  and  a  thousand  and  one  cor- 
rupt and  corrupting  isms,  are  thrown  broadcast  of 
the  land,  filling  the  social  atmosphere  with  deadly 
miasma. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  General  Association  the 
need  of  a  Baptist  paper  in  Missouri  to  resist  the  con- 
taminations of  vicious  literature;  to  indoctrinate  the 
membership  of  the  churches ;  to  disseminate  informa- 
tion concerning  evangelizing  enterprises;  to  bring 
scattered  brethren  into  communication,  and  to  promote 
a  higher  degree  of  spiritual  life  was  fully  discussed  by 
the  ablest  men  of  the  denomination. 

In  1840,  there  being  no  denominational  paper  pub- 
lished in  the  state;  and  as  there  was  not  immediate 
prospect  for  the  establishment  of  such  an  organ,  the 
General  Association  by  resolution  indorsed  and  recom- 


296  The  Press. 

mended  the  Western  Pioneer  and  Baptist  Banner  pub- 
lished in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  The  same  paper  now 
everywhere  known  as  the  Western.  Recorder.  This 
venerable  and  honorable  sheet,  still  having  its  home 
in  Louisville,  is  the  progenitor  of  western  and  southern 
Baptist  journalism. 

In  1842  there  appeared  from  the  press  in  St.  Louis 
the  first  number  of  a  monthly  issue  called  the  Missouri 
Baptist.  This  effort  was  in  pursuance  of  a  resolution 
of  the  General  Association  in  1842,  authorizing  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  "to  inquire  into  the  expedi- 
ency of  publishing  a  Baptist  periodical  as  speedily  as 
possible."  This  paper  was  edited  by  Revs.  Isaac  Hin- 
ton  and  R.  S.  Thomas.  Twelve  numbers  of  this  Mis- 
souri pioneer  of  denominational  journalism  were  issued 
at  a  loss  to  the  publishers  of  $100.45.  ^  special  com- 
mittee of  the  General  Association  of  1843  recommended 
that  the  paper  be  continued.  It  was  further  recom- 
mended that  in  order  to  a  more  frequent  issue  of  the 
paper,  a  plan  of  cooperation  with  the  Illinois  Baptist 
State  Convention  be  effected,  and  that  the  convention  be 
at  liberty  to  appoint  an  editor  for  the  Illinois  depart- 
ment. This  arrangement  was  agreeably  consummated. 
Of  this  union  there  came  forth  the  Missouri  and  Illinois 
Baptist.  This  new  and  uncapitalized  enterprise  strug- 
gled against  the  disadvantages  incident  to  such  an  un- 
dertaking, and  survived  not  more  than  a  year. 

It  is  a  suggestive  and  interesting  illustration  of  de- 
nominational and  general  progress  that,  now  after  the 
lapse  of  a  half  century,  each  of  the  states  that  entered 
into  this  combination  scheme  has  a  strong  and  influen- 
tial Baptist  Journal  of  more  than  national  reputation — 
The  Central  Baptist  in  Missouri  and  the  Standard  in 
Illinois. 

The  struggle  was  not  given  up  in  Missouri  when 
the  cooperation  scheme  failed.  In  1845  the  Association 
met  at  Columbia.     At  this  meeting  W.  M.  McPherson, 


The  Press.  297 

S.  H.  Ford,  and  R.  S.  Thomas  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee on  religious  periodicals.  The  committee  re- 
ported, the  rc])ort  was  "read  and  laid  on  the  tahle." 
Whereupon  Brother  Leland  Wright  offered  the  follow- 
ing resolution :  "That  a  conimittce  of  five  he  appointed 
to  devise  ways  and  means  for  the  pul)lication  of  a  Bap- 
tist periodical  in  this  state,  and  report  at  our  next  an- 
nual meeting;  or  commence  its  publication  earlier  if 
practicable."  Upon  the  adoption  of  this  resolution  the 
following  committee  was  appointed :  Leland  Wright, 
Fielding  Wilhite,  R.  S.  Thomas,  Roland  Hughes  and 
Wm.  McPherson. 

In  1846,  at  Lexington,  the  committee  on  religious 
periodicals  was  composed  of  R.  S.  Thomas,  Wm.  Mc- 
Pherson, T.  C.  Harris,  S.W.  Lynd  and  Roland  Hughes. 
That  committee  reported  as  follows :  "That  a  commit- 
tee of  three  be  appointed,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
prepare  a  prospectus  of  a  religious  newspaper,  to  be 
published  in  St.  Louis,  and  to  furnish  such  prospectus 
to  ministering  brethren  and  to  friends  friendly  to  the  en- 
terprise throughout  the  state,  and  request  their  agency, 
and  as  soon  as  twelve  hundred  and  fifty  responsible 
subscribers  are  obtained,  to  commence  the  publication 
of  the  paper,  upon  the  individual  responsibility  of  those 
who  may  be  willing  to  enter  into  it.  And  that  said 
committee  are  hereby  authorized  to  do  all  things  nec- 
essary in  the  premises  for  establishing  such  paper,  pro- 
vided that  the  General  Association  shall  not  be  liable 
for  such  paper,  nor  any  deficiency  or  expense  beyond 
the  printing  of  the  prospectus,  and  the  postage  of  the 
committee. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Wal- 
nut Grove  church  in  184?,  Dr.  S.  W.  Lynd,  from  the 
committee  on  religious  periodicals,  read  a  report,  set- 
ting forth  many  reasons  why  a  Baptist  journal  should 
be  established  by  ^lissouri  Baptists,  "ist.  As  an  organ 
of  notification.     Here  could  be  made  known  to  Bap- 


298  The  Press. 

tists  in  any  particular  section,  the  appointments  of 
ministers  and  agents  and  important  meetings  which 
are  often  held,  and  to  which  the  attention  of  the  com- 
munity ought  to  be  called.  2d.  An  organ  of  informa- 
tion: Here  could  be  conveyed  to  the  brethren  intelli- 
gence concerning  all  the  christian  enterprises  of  the 
day,  the  societies  engaged  in  them,  the  plan  of  their 
operations,  the  amounts  of  money  received  and  ex- 
pended in  all  the  different  departments,  and  wliat  is 
passing  on  in  the  world.  *  *  *  3d.  As  a  means  of  ex- 
hibiting the  great  principles  of  our  faith:  These  are 
but  imperfectly  understood  by  large  portions  of  the 
community,  and  often  misrepresented,  to  the  injury  of 
the  truth.  Even  among  ourselves  it  is  desirable  by  the 
discussion  of  important  views  to  secure  a  large  amount 
of  uniformity  in  principles  and  practices.  4th.  To 
supply  to  some  extent,  the  want  of  pastoral  labor.  *  *  * 
5th.  Especially  to  operate  as  an  economical  mode 
of  promoting  the  object  of  the  Association  in  diffusing 
the  missionary  work  through  the  state.  In  no  way 
can  the  cause  of  missions  be  advanced  within  our 
bounds  so  effectually  as  by  a  religious  periodical.  *  *  * 
The  committee  feel  that  there  must  be  twenty-five  good 
brethren  in  the  state  who  would  be  willing  to  sacrifice 
$50  each  to  see  the  consummation  of  this  work:  an 
established  weekly  religious  periodical  of  hi^h  charac- 
ter— a  blessing  to  the  state  now  and  for  generations  to 
come." 

In  1848  the  General  Association,  in  session  at  Big 
Lick  church  in  Cooper  county,  the  following  named  per- 
sons were  appointed  committee  on  religious  periodicals : 
S.  W.  Lynd,  R.  S.  Thomas,  W.  F.  Nelson,  T.  C.  Harris 
and  Jno.  Keach.  Dr.  Lynd  for  the  committee  offered 
the  following  report : 

"*  *  *  That  in  the  month  of  May  the  committee 
felt  justified  in  making  a  contract  for  the  publication 
of  the  paper.  *  *  *  The  second  number  was  issued  on 


The  Press.  399 

the  sixtli  of  June  and  sent  to  1,023  subscribers.  Since 
then  the  prospect  has  been  encouraging.  *  *  *  The 
subscribers  now  number  i,o75,  and  the  payments  on 
subscriptions  to  the  nineteenth  of  August,  amount  to 
$858.75 ;  which  will  compare  with  the  payments  made 
for  any  denominational  paper  in  the  country.  *  *  *  The 
committee  can  not  omit  to  state,  that  no  provision  was 
made  for  compensating  the  editor.  Bro.  Lynd  has  so 
far  undergone  the  labor  of  editing  the  paper  without 
any  provision  for  his  compensation." 

Rev.  S.  W.  Lynd,  D.  D.,  was  a  mild  mannered, 
genial  and  scholarly  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  was  at 
one  time  a  student  of  the  distinguished  Dr.  Straugliton, 
of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  \yhose  daughter  he 
married.  Dr.  Lynd  remained  in  St.  Louis  only  a  few 
years.  After  leaving  there  he  became  connected  with 
the  Western  Baptist  Theological  Seminary  at  Coving- 
ton, Kentucky,  an  institution  founded  under  what 
seemed  auspicious  conditions.  But  as  it  was  jointly 
founded  and  owned  by  Baptists  on  both  sides  of  the 
Ohio  river,  it  was  soon  involved  in  the  slavery  agita- 
tion of  the  country.  The  magnificent  property  on 
Eleventh  street,  Covington,  and  endowment  lots  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  city,  were  sold,  and  the  proceeds 
divided,  one  part  going  to  Georgetown  College,  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  other  part  to  some  institution  in  Cincin- 
nati. The  Kentucky  institution  was  entitled  to  over 
$100,000  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale.  But  payment 
was  delayed  a  great  while,  and  perhaps  never  fully 
made. 

The  contract  for  publishing  the  journal  above 
alluded  to  was  let  to  Bro.  T.  W.  Ustick,  who  faithfully 
performed  his  part  of  the  work. 

After  reading  the  report  to  the  Association  in 
1847,  an  effort  was  made  to  procure  the  names  of 
"twenty-five  good  brethren  who  would  be  willing  to 
sacrifice  $50  each  to  secure  the  consummation  of  the 
good  work."     The  effort  was  not  a  success,  and  the 


300  The  Press. 

subject  was  "laid  over  until  the  afternoon."  The  sec- 
ond effort  met  with  no  better  response  than  the  first, 
and  on  motion  of  a  Brother  Hill  the  "subject  was  laid 
over  for  the  present." 

Misfortune  seemed  bent  on  trying  the  faith  of  Mis- 
souri Baptists.  Before  the  completion  of  the  first  vol- 
ume of  the  Western  Watchman — for  such  the  child  of 
tribulation  was  christened — the  publishing  office  was 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  paper  was  discontinued. 

It  appears  from  records  that  an  association  called 
the  Watchman  Publishing  Society  was  organized  in 
1849  by  a  convention  called  at  the  instance  of  Rev.  J.  M. 
Peck,  at  the  time  and  place  of  the  meeting  of  the  Gen- 
eral Asociation  at  Mt.  Nebo  church,,  in  Cooper  county. 
This  convention  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of 
J.  M.  Peck,  Roland  Hughes  and  W.  F.  Nelson  to  draft 
and  report  a  constitution  for  the  proposed  society.  The 
committee  submitted  a  constitution  for  permanent  or- 
ganization. The  object  of  the  society  was  to  secure 
the  permanency  of  the  Watchman  by  a  stock  company. 
There  seems  to  have  been  no  sum  of  money  fixed  as  the 
capital  basis,  but  the  plan  was  a  share  holding  com- 
pany— the  shares  valued  at  $10  each,  and  the  business 
affairs  to  be  conducted  by  an  executive  board,  to  be 
chosen  by  the  stockholders.  The  scheme  was  ephem- 
eral, and  was  the  suggestion,  no  doubt,  of  discourage- 
ment bordering  on  dispair,  and  failed  of  anything  more 
than  a  tentative  measure. 

The  publication  of  the  Western  Watchman  was 
resumed,  and  in  185 1  Dr.  Wm.  Crowell  was  made  ed- 
itor and  proprietor.  From  this  time  on  the  enterprise 
became  practically  individual.  Dr.  Crowell  assumed  all 
responsibility.  There  were  now  about  i,7oo  subscrib- 
ers. Dr.  Crowell  continued  to  publish  the  Watchman 
until  1861,  when  it  was  suspended,  or  rather  discon- 
tinued. 


The  Press.  301 

As  early  as  1849  tlie  IVatchiiian  beg^an  to  decline 
in  fayor  with  the  denomination  in  the  state.  There 
were  probably  two  chief  reasons  for  this  declension: 
The  paper  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the  conviction  of 
many  Baptists  in  the  state,  that  Baptist  churches  should 
not  receive  into  their  membership  persons  baptized  by 
the  ministers  of  other  denominations.  And  again  the  in- 
clination of  the  paper  was  to  the  anti-slavery  side  of  a 
question  that  was  an  abiding-  irritant  in  Missouri  soci- 
ety. The  last  cause  of  dissatisfaction  could  not  have 
been  otherwise  than  expected.  At  that  time  the  Bap- 
tists in  Alissouri  were  mainly  slave  holders.  And 
whatever  may  have  been  their  opinions  of  the  right- 
eousness or  unrighteousness  of  the  system  of  labor,  it 
was  an  existing  institution  and  all  measures  calculated 
to  disturb  the  relation  of  master  and  slave  were  natur- 
ally irritating  to  the  former.  These  slave  holders  were  not 
slave  traders.  They  had  inherited  the  institution  and 
the  slaves.  It  was  not  reasonable  to  expect  hearty  sym- 
pathy and  active  support  of  a  journal  that  antagonized 
the  sentiment  and  domestic  interests  of  its  readers. 

Slavery  in  America  is  a  thing  of  the  past;  and  as 
the  institution — right  or  wrong — is  no  longer  a  bone  of 
contention,  it  is  gratifying  that  intelligent  and  conserva- 
tive persons  of  both  former  sides  of  the  issue  are  more 
and  more  disposed  to  supersede  the  question  by  vital 
and  present  interest. 

The  question  of  the  validity  of  baptisms  not  ad- 
ministered by  authority  of  a  Baptist  church  is  one 
about  which  American  Baptists  have  never  been  of  one 
opinion,  and  likely  never  will  be.  Opposition  to  alien 
immersions  was  well  implanted  in  the  convictions  of 
most  of  IMissouri  Baptists,  and  as  the  life  of  a  Baptist 
journal  in  Missouri  depended  on  the  support  of  Baptists 
in  the  state,  it  was  not  good  policy  for  the  Watchman 
to  put  itself  in  opposition  to  those  upon  whom  its  life 
depended. 


30-2  The  Press. 

In  view  of  the  attitude  of  the  Watchman  to  these 
irritating  questions,  a  movement  was  set  on  foot  in 
1859  for  the  estabHshment  of  another  Baptist  paper  in 
the  state.  In  April,  1859,  ^^  ^^^^  Charitan  church  in 
Howard  county,  a  society  called  the  Missouri  Baptist 
Publication  Society  was  formed  by  a  small  convention 
of  leading  and  influential  brethren.  The  objects  of  the 
convention  are  set  forth  in  the  two  following  articles  of 
the   constitution  adopted   as   the  basis   of  operations : 

"Article  2.  The  primary  object  of  this  society  shall 
be  the  establishment  on  a  firm  basis,  of  a  religious 
newspaper  to  advocate  our  denominational  principles 
and  polity  in  the  state  of  Missouri,  and  form  a  nucleus 
for  a  periodical  and  book  establishment  to  meet  the 
growing  wants  of  our  people  in  this  great  central 
valley. 

"Article  3.  Any  person  being  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  good  standing  may  become  a  stock 
holder  in  this  society  by  subscribing  the  sum  of  $50,  of 
which  sum  twenty  per  cent  shall  be  paid  into  the  treas- 
ury as  soon  as  $5,000  are  secured." 

This  convention  designated  and  authorized  D.  H. 
Hickman,  E.  S.  Dulin  and  Noah  Flood  as  commission- 
ers to  negotiate  for  the  purchase  of  the  Western  Watch- 
man. These  negotiations  were  instituted,  but  failed 
of  consummation  of  the  object. 

After  a  delay  of  several  months,  the  Missouri 
Baptist  Publication  Society  began  the  publication  of  a 
paper  called  the  Missouri  Baptist.  T.  W.  Ustick  was 
the  publisher  and  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  then  of  Louisville,  as 
editor  of  the  Christian  Repository — now  Ford's 
Christian  Repository  published  in  St.  Louis  and  con- 
ducted by  Dr.  Ford— was  the  editor.  The  first  issue 
of  this  paper  was  March  3,  i860.  In  July  of  the  same 
year  Dr.  Ford  was  engaged  as  permanent  editor,  and 
began  to  make  arrangements  to  settle  in  St.  Louis. 
The  first  issues  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  made  a  decidedly 


The  Press.  303 

favorable  impression,  and  the  growing  popularity  of 
the  paper  gave  substantial  promise  of  large  and  perma- 
nent success.  But  alas,  after  a  vigorous  life  of  less 
than  a  year  and  a  half,  the  hopeful  prospect  vanished 
under  a  war  cloud,  June  15,  1861.  The  cruelties  of  the 
raging  conflict  were  more  than  the  enterprise  could  re- 
sist. 

In  the  meantime  the  Western  Watchman  had 
failed  and  was  discontinued.  Again  Missouri  Baptists 
were  without  a  denominational  journal. 

It  is  an  historic  fact  of  more  than  ordinary  signifi- 
cance that  poverty,  persecution  and  perplexities  had, 
through  the  ages,  been  impotent  to  quell  the  zeal  or  stay 
the  hand  of  human  love  for  the  unseen  Savior  and  King 
of  kings.  There  is  a  mystic  power  in  faith  that  ties  the 
human  to  the  divine  and  brings  the  finite  into  forceful 
affinity  with  the  infinite.  There  is  scarcely  a  human 
enterprise  in  all  the  history  of  progress  that  has  with- 
stood such  reverses  and  hindrances  as  have  been  en- 
countered and  overcome  by  the  faith  of  God's  people 
in  struggling  for  the  triumphs  of  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ.  History  verifies  the  promise:  "Lo,  I  am  with 
you  in  all  the  days."  Human  infirmities  constantly 
manifest  themselves  in  all  that  is  human ;  and  divine 
purposes  committed  to  human  instrumentalities  are 
subject  to  the  laws  of  human  life,  but  beneath  the  ele- 
ments of  weakness  there  is  a  power  that  can  give 
strength  to  babes  and  sucklings,  and  that  makes  the 
wrath  of  man  praise  the  God  of  the  faithful.  Man's 
work  may  be,  yea  is,  imperfect,  and  failure  often  seems 
written  upon  his  best  endeavor,  but  the  promise  is  that 
Christ  "shall  see  of  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  shall  be 
satisfied."  It  is  no  doubt  best  for  man  that  his  efforts 
to  serve  Christ  are  made  in  weakness  and  that  his  bur- 
dens are  borne  in  affliction,  for  thus  he  comes  to  know 
the  worth  of  the  work  of  redemption. 


304  The  Press. 

A  new  era  dawns  upon  Missouri  Baptists.  An 
overruling  providence  rifts  the  dark  clouds  and  lets  in 
the  sunlight  of  hope.  The  roar  of  cannon  and  the 
clank  of  arms  are  hushed.  The  hatred  and  spirit  of 
revenge  that  poisoned  the  social  atmosphere  and  tainted 
christian  sentiment  still  linger,  slowly  yielding  to  the 
antidoting  power  of  peace  and  reason.  The  spirit  of 
persecution  and  oppression  that  dominated  the  puny 
brains  of  usurping  law  makers  is  skulking  from  the 
spectres  that  haunt  the  abodes  of  the  ignoble.  Justice 
is  making  ready  to  strike  down  the  edicts  of  ignorant 
assumption.  The  barricades  of  the  route  to  liberty  of 
speech  and  the  freedom  of  the  press  are  assaulted  by 
an  indignant  public  opinion;  and  Baptists  are  drinking 
in  fresh  courage. 

Such  heroes  of  faith  as  A.  P.  Williams,  X.  X. 
Buckner,  E.  S.  Dulin,  W.  R.  Rothwell,  Jesse  A.  Hollis, 
D.  H.  Hickman,  Y.  R.  Pitts,  W.  R.  Painter,  S.  A. 
Beauchamp  and  a  host  of  others  who  had  fought  in 
tribulation  and  tears  for  Baptist  journalism  in  Mis- 
souri and  had  witnessed  failure  and  defeat,  are  resolved 
to  make  another  and  a  heroic  effort.  The  denomina- 
tion felt  the  need  of  that  inspiration  that  a  truly  evan- 
gelical weekly  visitor  brings  to  heart  and  home  and 
church,  yet  the  people  of  God  had  not  rallied  from  the 
depression  of  a  dark  and  eventful  recent  past.  They 
needed  fearless  and  confident  and  God  trusting  leaders. 
They  were  at  hand.  The  men  whose  names  have  been 
written  above,  induced  John  Hill  Luther  and  R.  M. 
Rhoades  to  lead  the  venture  into  the  field  where  disaster 
and  humiliation  had  befallen  others.  Luther  was  a 
Rhode  Islander,  recently  to  Missouri  from  South  Car- 
olina. Rhoades  was  a  native  Missourian  of  one  of  the 
most  respected  and  influential  families  of  the  state. 

A  prospectus  for  the  Missouri  Baptist  Journal  was 
issued  from  Palmyra.  The  projectors  of  the  move- 
ment rallied  to  the  support  of  their  chosen  standard 


The  Press.  305 

bearers.  Several  of  them  made  personal  canvasses  of 
the  state.  W.  R.  Painter,  a  man  of  fervent  piety  and 
rare  preaching  ability,  fresh  from  the  rugged  experi- 
ence of  the  field  and  the  tent,  threw  himself  into  the 
new  enterprise  with  as  much  zest  and  genial  zeal  as 
ever  he  went  an  angling.  Town  and  hamlet  and  farm 
house  were  sought  for  support  to  the  new  enterprise. 
He  ceased  not  his  efforts  by  day  nor  by  night  until  he 
had  secured  one  thousand  subscribers.  The  Journal 
was  established.  Williams  and  Rothwell  and  Pitts  and 
Beauchamp  and  Buckner  had  done  their  part  well.  But 
it  may  be  said  that,  but  for  Painter  the  Journal  would 
not  have  followed  close  after  the  prospectus. 

On  the  eighth  day  of  January,  1866,  there  came 
forth  from  the  press  at  Palmyra,  in  Marion  county,  the 
first  number  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Journal.  A  fitting 
celebration  of  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  New  Or- 
leans, where  Andrew  Jackson  and  his  army  of  patriots 
brilliantly  illustrated  the  valor  and  heroism  of  Amer- 
icans. 

Notwithstanding  the  editor-in-chief,  John  Hill 
Luther,  was  under  bond  in  the  sum  of  $1,000  to  answer 
at  the  next  term  of  the  circuit  court  for  Marion  county, 
the  grave  charge  of  having  preached  the  glorious  gospel 
of  the  blissful  God,  without  having  made  affidavit  that 
he  had  no  sympathy  for,  nor  had  given  a  cup  of  water 
or  a  morsel  of  bread  to  "persons"  engaged  in  the  war 
for  southern  independence;  the  paper  made  signs  of 
freedom  and  independence  of  thought.  The  first  issue 
was  hailed  with  an  enthusiasm  that  time  proved  to  be 
more  than  a  mere  impulse. 

Dr.  Luther  was  in  every  sense  an  editor  of  rare 
ability.  He  is  not  only  a  scholar,  but  has  a  mind  well 
stored  with  comprehensive  knowledge,  and  a  quick 
perception  of  the  significance  of  the  incidents  and  events 
of  life  in  their  bearing  upon  social  and  religious  condi- 

20 


306  The  Press. 

tioiis.  His  writings  are  masterpieces  of  English.  His 
style  is  chaste,  smooth  and  direct.  His  editorials  gave 
him  high  rank  in  the  journalistic  world.  This  scholar 
and  educator  and  poet  and  preacher  now  resides  in 
Texas,  has  passed  the  three  score  and  ten  line  in  life, 
with  mental  vigor  and  lively  interest  in  all  things  per- 
taining to  the  Kingdom  of  Christ.  The  motto,  "The 
Faith,  the  Ordinances,  the  Life,"  that  has  stood  for 
nearly  a  third  of  a  century  as  the  sub-caption  of  the 
Missouri  Baptist  Journal  and  its  successor,  is  an  abiding 
monument  to  Dr.  Luther's  conception  of  the  true  char- 
acter and  mission  of  a  religious  journal. 

Rev.  R.  M.  Rhoades  was  an  able  coadjutor  to  Dr. 
Luther.  He  is  learned,  prudent  and  practical.  He 
now  resides  in  Atchison  county,  where  he  renders  effi- 
cient service  to  the  churches,  and  hesitates  not  to 
answer  the  calls  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  civic  positions 
where  his  knowledge  and  practical  habit  of  thought 
bring  him  in  demand. 

In  September,  1866,  there  appeared  from  the  press 
of  St.  Louis  a  Baptist  weekly  journal  bearing  the  title 
The  Record.  This  publication  was  the  offspring  of  the 
"Baptist  State  Convention,"  of  which  a  preceding  chap- 
ter of  this  book  gives  a  brief  sketch.  The  Record  was 
founded  and  conducted  by  authority  of  the  following 
resolution  of  the  Convention  at  its  sessions  for  1865 : 

"Resolved,  That  the  executive  board  be  authorized 
to  perfect,  at  the  earliest  practical  moment,  some  plan  by 
which  a  first  class  religious  weekly  paper  may  be  se- 
cured." 

Rev.  A.  A.  Kendrick  was  chosen  editor,  and  C.  R. 
Barnes  publisher  of  the  Record.  Rev.  A.  A.  Kendrick 
was  then  a  youthful  preacher  and  pastor  in  St.  Louis. 
He  was  w^ell  equipped  for  editorial  work,  by  education 
and  habit  of  thought.  Following  his  first  pastoral  life 
in  St.  Louis  he  devoted  twenty  years  to  the  presidency 
of  Shurtlefif  College  at  Alton,  Illinois — his  Alma  Mater. 


The  Press.  307 

Upon  retiring  from  the  presidency  he  returned  to  the 
pastorate  in  St.  Louis,  having  the  care  of  Immanuel 
church  on  Gates  Avenue,  a  thriving  and  beautiful  part 
of  the  "West  End"  section  of  the  great  city. 

In  August,  1868,  after  conferences  of  the  friends 
of  the  Journal  and  the  Record  respectively,  the  two  pa- 
pers were  consolidated  under  the  name 

THE  CENTRAL  BAPTIST. 

This  union  was  effected  at  the  suggestion  of  Dr. 
A.  A.  Kendrick,  with  the  view  to  removing  all  occa- 
sion of  friction  of  the  two  elements  of  the  denomination 
in  the  state  resultant  of  the  war  of  186 1-5.  The  result 
did  not  disappoint  the  design.  The  arrangement  was 
generally  and  heartily  approved  and  was  followed  by 
a  new  spirit  in  all  denominational  enterprises  in  the 
state. 

A  printing  and  publishing  company  was  organized 
and  capitalized  and  incorporated  under  the  name  and 
style  of  "The  St.  Louis  Baptist  Publishing  Company." 
A  thoroughly  equipped  plant  was  established.  An  ex- 
ecutive committee  had  charge  of  the  entire  business  of 
the  company.  E.  D.  Jones,  a  banker  in  St.  Louis,  was 
made  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  Chauncy  R. 
Barnes  was  put  in  charge  as  foreman  of  the  establish- 
ment. John  Hill  Luther  was  chosen  editor-in-chief, 
with  A.  A.  Hendrick  and  Norman  Fox  as  associate 
editors. 

Dr.  Fox  was  at  the  time  professor  of  History  and 
English  Literature  in  the  William  Jewell  College.  His 
accomplishments  as  a  scholar,  his  ability  as  a  writer,  his 
high  moral  and  religious  character,  blended  with  unaf- 
fected gentlemanly  courtesy,  gave  him  great  influence 
in  Missouri.  He  now  resides  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey, 
in  the  suburbs  of  New  York  City,  where  he  has  promi- 
nent recognition  as  a  writer  and  public  spirited  citizen. 


3^S  The  Press. 

Some  of  his  views  recently  published  in  an  attractive 
volume  are  not  in  accord  with  the  prevailing  convictions 
of  the  Baptists  of  the  country,  and  his  expectations  of 
adverse  criticism  have  not  been  disappointed.  But  he 
has  the  consciousness  of  holding  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  his  vast  circle  of  acquaintances  in  and  out  of 
the  denomination. 

In  i87o,  W.  Pope  Yeaman  having  removed  from 
the  City  of  New  York,  where  he  had  been  engaged  in 
the  pastorate,  to  St.  Louis,  was  soon  invited  by  Dr. 
Luther  to  association  in  the  work  of  conducting  the 
Central  Baptist.  The  company  having  ownership  and 
control  of  the  paper  had  been  losing  money  in  the  job 
department.  Some  members  of  the  company  complained 
that  the  paper  was  not  the  source  of  as  much  money  in- 
come as  it  should  be.  The  president  of  the  board  and  the 
foreman  of  the  office  were  particularly  persona  non 
grata  to  Dr.  Luther.  Neither  of  them  knew  anything 
about  religious  journalism,  yet  presumed  to  dictate  the 
editorial  management.  This  course  Avas  an  unmitigated 
annoyance  to  the  editor,  who  felt  that  he  was  subjected 
to  humiliating  and  hindering  interferences.  He  felt  that 
he  was  not  producing  such  a  journal  as  he  could  and 
would  produce  if  unhampered.  He  proposed  to  W. 
Pope  Yeaman  that  he  come  to  his  relief.  This  was  to 
be  effected  by  purchase  of  the  Central  Baptist  separate 
from  the  printing  establishment.  After  no  little  con- 
ference and  negotiation,  the  purchase  was  effected  at 
the  price  of  $4,000  for  the  name,  subscription  list  and 
"good  will"  of  the  paper.  John  Hill  Luther  and  W. 
Pope  Yeaman  became  joint  proprietors  and  coordinate 
editors.  At  the  time  of  this  arrangement  the  subscrip- 
tion list  to  the  Central  Baptist  had  fallen  below  five 
thousand.  By  January,  i872,  the  list  had  increased  to 
about  seven  thousand.  In  this  year  the  partner  of  Dr. 
Luther  realizing  that  all  had  been  accomplished  for 
which  he  had  been  invited  into  the  connection,  retired 


The  Press.  S^P 

from  the  paper  and  A.  Salmon  Teasdale  became  asso- 
ciated with  Dr.  Luther  under  the  firm  style  of  Luther 
and  Teasdale. 

In  1875,  the  new  firm  having  become  embarrassed 
financially,  the  disposition  of  the  paper  was  determined 
as  the  only  escape.  A  number  of  brethren  insisted  that 
W.  Pope  Yeaman  should  come  to  the  rescue.  He  hesi- 
tated and  shrank  from  the  burden  of  editorial  work  and 
business  management  of  the  paper,  added  to  the  respon- 
sibilities of  the  pastorate.  He  finally  consented  to  go 
into  the  ownership  and  conduct  of  the  paper  in  connec- 
tion with  Rev.  Wiley  J.  Patrick.  It  required  five 
thousand  dollars  to  clear  the  plant  of  incumbrances  and 
get  possession.  The  firm  of  Yeaman  &  Patrick  con- 
tinued for  several  months,  when,  because  of  insufficient 
resources.  Dr.  Patrick  retired  from  the  concern,  after 
disposing  of  his  interest  to  Yeaman,  who  now  became 
sole  proprietor  and  editor.  During  his  sole  control  of 
the  paper  he  was  made  chancellor  of  the  William  Jew- 
ell College.  He  found  his  labors  as  pastor,  editor  and 
chancellor  too  great  a  burden,  he  called  to  his  aid  Rev. 
Wm.  Ferguson  as  assistant  editor.  In  i877  Mr.  Fer- 
guson bought  the  paper,  after  its  business  and  credit 
had  been  well  restored.  Mr.  Ferguson  soon  associated 
with  him  his  special  friend,  Rev.  J.  C.  Armstrong  in 
editorial  v^ork.  Dr.  J.  T.  Williams  was  engaged  for 
field  agent  and  correspondent.  LTnder  this  management 
the  paper  was  relieved  of  the  debt  Mr.  Ferguson  as- 
sumed in  the  purchase  and  the  judicious  attention  to  the 
general  business  of  the  concern  resulted  in  making  the 
establishment  a  valuable  plant. 

In  1882,  owing  to  failing  health,  Mr.  Ferguson 
sold  the  paper  to  Dr.  William  Harrison  Williams,  of 
Virginia.  Dr.  Williams  continued  sole  proprietor  and 
editor  of  the  paper  until  August  24,  1893,  when  he 
suddenly  and  altogether  unexpectedly  died  in  the  rail- 
road depot  at  Alexandria,  Missouri.     At  the  meeting  of 


3IO  The  Press. 

the  General  Association  following  the  death  of  Dr.  W. 
H.  Williams,  suitable  and  impressive  memorial  services 
were  held  in  expression  of  the  esteem  in  which  the  de- 
parted brother  was  held  by  his  co-laborers.  The  fol- 
lowing communication  to  the  Association  was  received 
from  the  widow  of  the  lamented  dead  : 

"The  days  of  the  last  two  months  have  been  as 
night  in  our  home.  The  story  of  a  great  sorrow  can 
not  be  written.  But  the  darkness  of  our  night  has  been 
made  less  oppressive  by  the  many  tender  words  that 
have  come  from  my  friends  and  those  of  my  sainted 
husband.  Healing  and  helpful,  these  expressions  have 
been  to  us  a  very  'Song  in  the  night.'  I  can  not  do  more 
and  I  would  not  do  less,  than  to  gratefully  acknowledge 
all  these  tokens  which  the  friends  have  kindly  given  of 
their  feelings  for  us. 

"As  to  the  future  of  the  paper,  it  shall  be  my 
earnest  and  prayerful  purpose  to  maintain  its  same 
courteous,  conservative  and  firm  policy  which  has  won 
the  wide  and  hearty  support  of  the  denomination.  I 
need  and  crave  the  support  and  prayers  of  all  the 
friends  of  the  paper,  that  those  to  whom  its  immediate 
management  is  committed,  as  well  as  myself,  may  be 
divinely  guided  so  as  best  to  honor  our  Master  and 
serve  the  brotherhood. 

"(Signed)  Mrs.  W.  H.  Williams." 

Dr.  Williams  was  born  in  Richmond,  Virginia. 
July  1 8,  1840.  He  was  an  acceptable  and  successful 
pastor  of  several  churches  in  important  centers  of  influ- 
ence. In  Missouri  he  was  actively  interested  in  every 
good  work,  and  was  an  earnest  and  influential  friend 
of  the  General  Association,  and  sought  by  his  personal 
effort  and  the  energy  and  influence  of  the  Central  Bap- 
tist to  promote  every  work  to  which  it  gave  moral  and 
active  support.  His  death  was  a  felt  and  acknowledged 
loss. 


I 


r he  Press.  3'' 

I^Irs   Williams  leases  the  paper  to  Dr.  J.  C.  Arm- 
strong and  A.  W.  Payne,  who  conduct  its  busmess  un- 
der the  firm  style  of  Armstrong  &  Payne.     Dr.  Arm- 
strong is  editor,  and  A.  W.  Payne  is  business  manager. 
This  is  an  excellent  combination  of  talent.     Dr.  Arm- 
strong's superior  ability  as  an  editor  is  too  well  and  too 
generally  known,  and  so  exemplified  in  every  issue  of 
The  paper,  that  words  of  commendation  here  would  be 
out  of  place.     Brother  Payne's  business  management 
has  won  for  the  paper  and  for  himself  the  utmost  and 
Gladsome  confidence  of  the  entire  brotherhood      His 
repeated  elections  to  the  ofiice  of  recording  secretary  of 
the  Association  is  sufficient  testimonial  to  his  position 
in  the  denomination.  .  . 

Dr.  Armstrong  is  a  native  of  Missouri,  born  in 
Franklin  countv,  November  lo,  1847.  His  collegiate 
education  was  at  the  William  Jewell  College,  Liberty, 
Missouri,  of  which  institution  he  is  an  alumnus,  having 
successively  won  the  degrees  of  A.  B.  and  M.  A.  He 
has  never  ceased  to  be  a  thoughtful  and  systematic  stu- 
dent From  his  Alma  Mater  he  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  in  Divinity,  which  unsought  distinction  he  wears 
modestly.  His  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  de- 
nomination in  Missouri  has  won  for  him  deserved  m- 

fluence.  ^u     i 

The  Central  Baptist  has  a  strong  hold  on  the  de- 
nomination in  the  state,  and  ranks  high  in  American 
religious  journalism.  Although  the  ownership  ot  the 
paper  is  personal,  as  it  has  been  from  the  start,  and  is 
essentially  an  individual  enterprise,  it  is  the  acknowl- 
edged organ  of  the  General  Association  of  Missouri 

^  At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  held  at 
Roanoke  in  1866,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  : 
"Resolved,  That  we,  the  Baptist  General  Associa- 
tion of  Missouri,  do  recognize  the  Missouri  Baptist 
Journal,  J.  H.  Luther  editor,  as  our  state  organ  and 
commend  it  to  the  patronage  and  support  ot  all  the 


312  The  Press. 

friends  of  our  cause  throughout  the  state,  and  that  we 
earnestly  request  all  our  ministers  and  members  to 
labor  for  the  increase  of  its  circulation." 

The  Central  Baptist  is  a  continuation  of  the  Journal 
and  the  Association  has  never  failed  to  regard  it  in  the 
light  in  which  it  was  recognized  and  avowed  at  Roa- 
noke in  1866.  This  relation  to  the  Association  is  a  well 
merited  right.  The  paper  has  never  sought  to  direct 
the  affairs  of  the  Association  nor  essayed  to  be  a  radi- 
cal reformer  of  its  fundamental  law  or  established  poli- 
cies. It  has  ever  diligently  striven  to  advance  every 
interest  espoused  by  the  Association  and  has  never  an- 
tagonized its  methods.  Without  it,  the  enterprises  of 
the  denomination  in  the  state  must  have  lagged  and 
perhaps  utterly  failed.  Its  timely,  wise  and  efficient 
help  has  been  repeatedly  recognized  by  resolutions  of 
indorsement  and  commendation.  And  so  long  as  it 
pursues  the  course  of  the  past  it  will  doubtless  be  the 
recognized  organ  of  the  General  Association.  Its 
struggles  have  been  trying  and  its  tribulations  many, 
but  under  God's  blessing  it  is  now,  to  all  human  ap- 
pearances, beyond  peradventure. 

It  has  never  been  questioned  by  the  General  Asso- 
ciation, nor  by  its  recognized  organ  that,  any  individ- 
ual having  a  desire  to  do  .so  has  a  natural  right  to  es- 
tablish and  conduct  a  Baptist  newspaper  in  the  state. 
The  question  of  the  expediency  of  exercising  this  nat- 
ural right  rests  with  the  person  whose  zeal  or  ambition 
as  the  case  may  be,  inclines  him  to  embark  in  the  under- 
taking, and  so  embarking  he  is  entitled  to  all  that  the 
voyage  may  bring  him  of  success  or  of  failure.  It  is 
likewise  the  natural  and  inalienable  right  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  to  decide  for  itself  what  paper  or  pa- 
pers it  will  recognize  as  an  exponent  of  its  principles 
and  cooperator  in  its  work. 

The  time  has  been,  and  recently,  when  the  work 
of  the  General  Association  was  hindered  by  the  sys- 


The  Press.  313 

tematic  and  persistent  effort  of  a  journal  in  the  state, 
claiming  to  be  par  excellence  the  Flag  of  the  denomina- 
tion. Yet  this  same  journal  repeatedly  sought  the  in- 
dorsement of  the  body  it  antagonized,  and  then  menac- 
ingly waved  its  banner  because  the  Association  declined 
to  be  brow-beaten  and  cudgeled  into  submission.  The 
General  Association  has  survived  the  assaults  made 
upon  it,  while  its  assailant — more  courageous  than  pru- 
dent, has  quietly  subsided. 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  a  history  of  the 
General  Association  to  make  note  of  things  or  persons 
not  actually  connected  with  that  institution,  either  by 
its  recognition,  or  by  enforced  relations  like  that  of  op- 
position and  antagonism.  But  as  Rev.  S.  M.  Brown  has 
been  prominently  officially  connected  with  the  General 
Association,  and  is  personally  a  member  and  active  and 
influential  worker  for  the  promotion  of  its  enterprises, 
it  is  not  going  out  of  the  way  to  note  that  he,  in  connec- 
tion with  Rev.  R.  K.  Maiden,  D.  D.,  is  publishing  a 
sprightly  and  vigorous  Baptist  weekly  in  Kansas  City, 
called  the  Word  and  Way.  This  journal  has  qualities 
commendatory,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  develop 
into  an  active  adjunct  to  the  General  Association  in  all 
of  its  undertakings  when  good  conscience  and  prudence 
will  permit. 

The  power  of  the  press  is  universally  admitted  by 
all  civilized  people.  The  safeguard  to  society  and  the 
progress  of  pure  religion  and  upright  morals  are 
largely  dependent  upon  the  character  of  reading  matter 
with  which  the  people  are  daily  and  weekly  supplied. 
To  maintain  the  religious  press  in  a  christian  country 
is  one  of  the  first  duties  of  personal  Christianity. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

AUXILIARY  RELATIONS  AND  UNIFICATION. 

In  the  first  decade  of  years  of  the  Missouri  Baptist 
General  Association,  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mis- 
sion Society  was  recognized,  and  the  Association  placed 
itself  in  the  attitude  of  an  auxiliary  and  even  secondary 
or  subordinate  institution,  and  designated  the  Home 
Mission  Society  as  the"parent  society."  As  early  as  1844 
the  executive  board  of  the  General  Association,  in  its 
annual  report  uses  this  language :  'Tn  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  state  the  Parent  Society  has  three  mission- 
aries under  the  superintendence  of  the  New  Cape  Gi- 
rardeau Association,  whose  joint  salaries  are  $300  per 
annum.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  aggregate  amount  ex- 
pended in  Missouri  by  the  parent  society  is  $76o,  a 
liberality  which  calls  for  our  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments, and  is  well  worthy  our  imitation.  We  again 
suggest  the  propriety  of  conforming  our  minutes  to  the 
plan  recommended  and  solicited  by  Brother  Hill,  its 
corresponding  secretary." 

It  was  the  aim  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  from 
the  start  to  have  all  state  or  local  missionary  organiza- 
tions to  formally  recognize  it  as  the  common  and  min- 
istrative  center  of  all  organized  missionary  operations 
in  the  United  States,  for  home  mission  work.  Their 
corresponding  secretaries  and  agents  sought  to  influ- 
ence local  organizations  into  recognition  of  this  rela- 
tion. 

The  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  is 
but  two  years  older  than  the  Missouri  Baptist  General 
Association,  having  been  organized  April  27,  1832. 
The  first  annual  collections  by  this  society  for  general 
missionary  operations  were  but  $6,586.73,  not  as  much 

314 


Auxiliary  RcIatio)is  and  I'liificatioi. 


o'D 


as  one  half  of  the  sum  raised  by  the  Missouri  Baptist 
General  Association  in  1884  for  state  missions.  In  the 
sixth  year  of  the  Home  Mission  Society's  operations 
its  collections  amounted  to  $17,232.18,  not  more  than 
$2,000  in  excess  of  what  Missouri  Baptists  have  col- 
lected in  a  single  year  on  their  own  field  for  their  own 
work.  These  figures  will  indicate  that  the  Home  Mis- 
sion Society  could  not  have  done  enough  in  the  matter 
of  financial  aid,  to  have  been  the  parent  of  a  State 
Association,  when  it  was  only  two  years  old.  Besides 
this,  the  constitution  adopted  by  the  Missouri  "Central 
Society" — afterward  the  General  Association — made 
no  mention  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  or  any  other 
organization  to  which  it  was  organically  related. 

The  corresponding  secretary,  Rev.  Benjamin  M. 
Hill,  of  Troy,  New  York,  of  the  Home  Mission  Soci- 
ety, was  an  able,  consecrated  and  efficient  servant  of  the 
Divine  Master.  His  services  as  corresponding  secre- 
tary were  of  incalculable  worth  to  the  Baptist  cause  in 
the  United  States,  and  especially  in  the  west  and  south. 
He  no  doubt  felt  that  the  success  of  the  society  and  the 
unity  of  the  brotherhood  would  be  promoted  by  bring- 
ing all  state  Baptist  missionary  organizations  into  close 
and  secondary  relation  to  the  Home  Mission  Society. 

But  as  a  matter  of  fact  the  Home  Mission  Society 
was  and  is  a  local  organization,  though  its  aims  are  gen- 
eral and  beneficent.  The  Society  owes  its  existence  to 
Rev.  J.  M.  Peck,  whose  name  is  so  intimately  connected 
and  interwoven  with  the  early  history  of  Missouri  Bap- 
tists. The  visit  of  this  veteran  and  heroic  missionary 
to  the  east,  after  nine  years  of  missionary  labor  in  the 
west,  was  the  means  of  interesting  Jonathan  Going,  D. 
D.,  then  pastor  of  the  church  in  Worcester,  Massachu- 
setts, in  the  claims  of  the  west  for  more  systematic 
and  thorough  evangelizing  efforts.  Through  his  earn- 
est and  urgent  efforts  the  Society  was  organized  in 
New  York,  with  Hon.  Herman  Lincoln,  of  Massachu- 


3i6  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

setts,  as  its  president,  and  Dr.  Jonathan  Going  as  its 
corresponding  secretary,  and  William  Colgate  for  its 
treasurer.  These  three  truly  great  men,  with  their  co- 
operating brethren  of  New  York  and  Massachusetts, 
made  the  Society  a  great  institution.  Dr.  Hill  suc- 
ceeded Dr.  Going  in  the  secretaryship  in  1839,  ^^^"^  con- 
tinued for  many  years  to  superintend  the  operations  of 
the  Society's  missionary  work.  He  is  the  author  of 
that  motto  of  the  Society :  "North  Am.erica  for  Christ." 
A  sentiment  and  a  purpose  that  should  fill  and  direct 
every  christian  heart  on  this  great  continent. 

The  General  Association  continued  in  auxiliary 
relation  to  the  American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 
until  1846,  when  Dr.  S.  W  Lynd,  from  the  committee 
to  whom  the  proposition  of  becoming  auxiliary  to  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention  had  previously  been  re- 
ferred, submitted  the  following  report : 

"The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject 
of  dissolving  our  connection  with  the  American  Bap- 
tist Home  Mission  Society  and  becoming  auxiliary  to 
the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  have  given  such  at- 
tention to  the  subject  as  the  time  allotted,  and  other  en- 
gagements would  allow. 

"It  is  the  opinion  of  the  committee  that  this  Asso- 
ciation is  under  obligations  of  gratitude  to  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Home  Mission  Society  for  the  aid  which 
they  have  heretofore  rendered  in  the  support  of  mis- 
sionaries in  this  state,  and  which  they  are  still  disposed 
to  continue,  as  far  as  their  means  will  justify. 

"While  the  circumstances  which  have  produced 
division  between  the  north  and  the  south  have  been  be- 
yond our  control,  and  the  division  itself,  in  many  re- 
spects, to  be  deeply  regretted,  yet  we  can  not  but  hope 
that,  in  the  providence  of  God,  it  will  result  in  a  wider 
diffusion  of  the  blessings  of  missionary  effort. 

"From  the  local  position,  the  institutions  of  the 
state  and  the  general  feeling  of  the  people,  it  appears 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  V7 

to  your  conmuttee  to  be  obviously  proper  that  so  far 
as  union  with  anv  organization  as  an  auxihary  is  con- 
cerned, this  Association  will  better  harmonize  with  the 
views  and  the  enterprise  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Con- 
vention. 

'The  committee  therefore  recommend  the  adop- 
tion of  the  following  resolutions : 

"i.  Resolved,  That  this  Association  become  auxil- 
iary to  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

"2.  Resolved,  That  the  secretary  of  this  meeting 
be  instructed  to  notify  the  corresponding  secretary  of 
said  convention  of  this  resolution." 

This  report  was  adopted,  and  by  this  action  the 
General  Association  became  auxiliary  to  the  Southern 
Baptist  Convention. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  the  foregoing  report 
mentions  "division  between  the  north  and  the  south." 
To  many  who  have  reached  mature  years  within  the 
last  third  of  a  century,  these  words  may  seem  strange, 
inasmuch  as  they  speak  of  a  time  many  years  before 
the  war  of  the  states.  It  is  therefore  particularly  per- 
tinent to  this  place  to  refer  briefly  to  the  origin  of  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention. 

For  several  years  prior  to  1845  the  Baptists  of  the 
United  States  carried  on  their  missionary  operations 
through  one  general  organization  known  as  the  Tri- 
ennial Conventiop.     This  convention   had   a  board  of 
foreign  missions  located  at  Boston,  Massachusetts.     In 
1845  the  city  of  Boston  and  the  New  England  States, 
or  part  of  them,  were  greatly  excited  by  the  annexation 
of  Texas  to  the  United  States,  with  a  constitution  au- 
thorizing slavery.     This  excitement  was  increased  by 
the  treatment  that  a  certain  indiscreet  Mr.  Hoar,  of 
Massachusetts,  received  at  the  hands  of  a  few  indiscreet 
South  Carolinians  at  Charleston.     The  members  of  the 
Boston  Board  of  missions  partook  of  this  excitement, 
and    introduced    the   troublesome  question  of    slavery 


31^  An.viliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

into  their  board  proceedings.  They  began  to  question 
missionaries  holding  commissions  from  the  board,  con- 
cerning their  relation  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  and 
such  missionaries  as  ov/ned  or  had  an  interest  in  slaves 
were  urged  to  purge  themselves  of  the  iniquity  (?) 
This  unwarrantable  action  of  the  Boston  board  called 
forth  from  a  Brother  Bushyhead,  of  Alabama,  who  was 
a  missionary  to  the  Indians,  under  commission  from 
the  board,  a  question  designed  to  call  forth  ofificial 
declaration  from  the  board  as  to  whether  the  secret  in- 
quisitorial processes  with  the  missionaries  were  to  be  re- 
ceived as  an  intimation  of  the  board's  future  policy.  To 
which  the  board  replied :  "*  *  *  If,  however,  any  one 
should  offer  himself  as  a  missionary,  having  slaves,  and 
insist  on  retaining  them  as  his  property,  we  could  not 
appoint  him." 

The  result  of  this  extra  constitutional  action  of  the 
board,  was  a  call  issued  by  the  Baptists  of  Alabama  for 
a  southern  convention.  That  call  was  responded  to  by 
the  Baptist  churches  of  the  southern  states,  and  the 
"Southern  Baptist  Convention"  was  organized.  It  is  a 
strong  and  influential  body,  and  such  Baptists  of  Mis- 
souri as  attend  the  meetings  of  their  General  Associa- 
tion are  familiar  with  the  face  and  eloquence  of  the  vig- 
orous and  accomplished  corresponding  secretary.  Rev. 
Dr.  I.  T.  Tichenor. 

In  1850  Dr.  J.  B.  Jeter,  chairman  of  committee  on 
"Southern  Baptist  Convention,"  submitted  report  to 
the  General  Association,  as  follows :  "Your  committee 
to  report  on  the  condition  and  prospects  of  the  Domes- 
tic Mission  Board  of  Southern  Baptist  Convention, 
submit  the  following :  "*  *  *  Your  committee  are  of  the 
opinion  that  the  interests  of  our  denomination  may  be 
greatly  promoted  in  our  state  by  a  closer  union  of  our 
Association  with  that  board.  *  *  *  The  board  can  not 
only  furnish  us  money,  but  what  is  more  important 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  319 

still,  men  to  occup)-  many-of  the  important  towns  and 
neighborhoods  in  the  state.  *  *  * 

"In  view  of  these  considerations, 

"i.  Resolved,  That  the  board  of  this  Association 
be  authorized  and  instructed  to  enter  into  such  arrange- 
ments with  the  Domestic  Mission  Board  of  the  South- 
ern Baptist  Convention  as  may  secure  their  most  effi- 
cient cooperation  within  the  limits  of  the  state,  and  that 
the  agents  and  missionaries  of  that  board  may  act  un- 
der the  sanction  of  our  board. 

"2.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Association  are  due, 
and  are  hereby  tendered  to  the  Domestic  Mission  Board 
South  for  their  generous  appropriations  to  support  mis- 
sionary labor  in  St.  Louis;  and  in  other  places  within 
our  state." 

In  1 85 1,  the  report  on  the  Southern  Convention 
was  submitted  by  W.  W.  Keep,  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee, as  follows : 

"A  review  of  domestic  mission  efforts  presents  an 
encouraging  aspect.  *  *  *  Too  close  a  union  with  the 
Southern  Domestic  Board  can  scarcely  exist.  *  *  * 
Many  of  our  important  towns  are  in  very  pressing 
need  of  assistance,  and  a  small  amount  of  means,  di- 
recting the  labors  of  the  right  sort  of  men  would  doubt- 
less be  attended  with  the  most  happy  results.  Your 
committee  would  present  the  capital  of  our  state,  to- 
gether with  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph :  one  the  center  of 
political  influence,  and  the  others  large  commercial 
points." 

For  the  benefit  of  younger  readers,  it  is  noted  that 
the  word  "Domestic"  before  the  word  board,  has  been 
substituted  by  the  word  "Home."  The  Domestic  Mis- 
sion Board  was  for  a  long  time  at  Marion,  Alabama, 
now  the  Home  Mission  Board  is  at  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

The  General  Association  continued  to  cooperate 
with  the  Southern  Convention  until  the  interruptions  of 


320  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

relations  and  communications  by  the  civil  war  of 
1861-5. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Pal- 
myra in  1865,  the  following  resolution  was  promptly 
adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  we  resume  our  former  relations 
to  the  board  of  domestic  and  Indian  missions,  located 
at  Marion,  Alabama,  and  that  we  pledge  our  prayers, 
sympathies  and  contributions  to  its  support." 

And  in  1866  the  following  resolutions  were 
adopted  at  the  meeting  of  the  Association  at  Roanoke : 
"That  the  General  Association  instruct  the  executive 
board  to  cooperate  with  the  Domestic  Mission  Board  of 
the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  in  sustaining  any 
minister  whom  they  may  appoint  to  build  up  an  inter- 
est in  St.  Louis  or  in  any  other  portion  of  the  state ;  and 
to  cooperate  with  the  Sunday  School  Board  of  that  Con- 
vention." 

In  1869,  as  a  concession  to  the  element  that  had 
formed,  and  after  the  third  meeting  dissolved,  the  "Mis- 
souri Baptist  State  Convention,"  the  Missouri  Baptist 
General  Association  amended  the  first  article  of  the  con- 
stitution by  striking  out  the  words  "and  shall  be  auxil- 
iary to  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,"  thus  leav- 
ing the  Association  without  organic  auxiliary  relation 
to  any  missionary  organization.  This  amendment 
however  was  of  small  consequence,  as  all  Baptists,  and 
Baptist  churches  and  district  associations  were  at  lib- 
erty to  designate  and  cause  to  be  transmitted  their  con- 
tributions to  any  cause  and  through  any  channel  they 
might  prefer  and  select.  Of  course,  the  amendment 
was  unsatisfactory  to  the  sentiment  of  those  persons 
who  felt  that  the  convention  is  entitled  to  formal  ex- 
pression of  the  fellowship  of  the  Association.  But 
the  convention  was  not  injured,  nor  was  any  other 
organization  benefited  or  in  any  sense  a  victor. 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  $21 

A  result  of  the  amendment  of  the  constitution  was 
to  offer  an  "open  door"  to  all  missionary  organizations 
who  desired  to  enter  Missouri  by  their  agents.  This 
open  door  opportunity  was  soon  utilized.  It  was  not 
long  until  the  state  was  canvassed  for  contributions  by 
not  less  than  four  different  agents.  One  for  the  Mis- 
sionary Union,  the  foreign  missionary  organization  of 
the  northern  brethren;  one  for  the  American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society;  one  for  the  Richmond  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention, 
and  one  for  the  Home  Mission  Board  of  that  conven- 
tisn. 

The  efforts  of  these  agents  in  the  state  brought 
more  or  less  of  confliction,  and  somewhat  of  friction. 
Besides  this,  the  Baptists  and  the  Baptist  churches  of 
the  state,  and  the  meetings  of  the  district  associations 
felt  that  the  visitations  of  agents  were  so  frequent  that 
their  own  affairs  and  times  of  public  worship  were  in- 
terfered with  and  interrupted  more  than  was  to  their 
comfort  and  the  progress  of  the  cause  at  home.  This 
feeling  was  not  without  cause  and  the  protestations 
were  not  groundless,  particularly  on  the  part  of 
churches  that  hold  services  but  one  Sunday  in  each 
month.  The  coming  of  the  four  agents  already  desig- 
nated would  take  one  fourth  of  the  Sabbaths  in  a  year ; 
and  then  in  addition  to  these  there  would  come  the  rep- 
resentative of  the  General  Association;  then  a  college 
agent,  and  now  one  half  of  their  preaching  days  for  the 
year  were  occupied  by  presentations  of  claims  for 
money.  Then  a  special  agent  must  be  heard  occa- 
sionally. 

The  stronger  of  the  district  associations  would  be 
visited  by  all  of  these  representatives,  each  feeling  that 
his  cause  had  special  claims  and  was  entitled  to  prece- 
dence of  hearing  and  the  "first  fruits." 

It  was  but  a  natural  result  that  there  should  have 
groAvn  up  and  gone  forth  a  gentle  wail  of  complaint. 

2J 


7,22  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

Brethren  were  not  opposed  to  the  interests  represented. 
They  were  willing — many  of  them — to  do  their  respect- 
ive parts  for  the  good  interests  pressed  upon  their  at- 
tention, but  they  came  to  feel  that  the  pressure  was  a 
little  too  combined,  and  that  they  had  interests  of  their 
own  that  deserved  some  attention. 

The  conditions  grew  to  such  proportions  that  the 
question  of  relief  for  the  churches  and  district  associa- 
tions found  its  way  into  the  meetings  of  the  General 
Association. 

In  October,  i887,  with  the  General  Association  in 
session  at  Maryville,  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions were  introduced  by  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  and  after 
appropriate  discussion  were  adopted  : 

"Whereas,  There  are  two  distinct  boards  in  each 
of  the  departments  of  home  and  foreign  mission  work 
in  the  United  States,  and  in  the  home  work ;  one  known 
as  the  Home  Mission  Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention,  and  the  other  as  the  'American  Baptist 
Home  Mission  Society ;'  and  in  the  foreign  work  one  is 
known  as  the  'Foreign  Mission  Board  of  the  Southern 
Baptist  Convention'  and  the  other  as  the  'American 
Baptist  Missionary  Union,'  and 

"Whereas,  there  being  no  difference  of  faith  or 
doctrine  existing  to  cause  this  separation,  therefore 
be  it 

"Resolved,  That,  it  is  the  sense  of  this  Association 
that  in  union  there  is  strength. 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed 
by  the  moderator,  with  instructions  to  open  a  corre- 
spondence with  the  general  missionary  boards  of  the  de- 
nomination looking  to  and  inquiring  into  the  possibility 
of  unifying  our  missionary  agencies  in  the  state — with 
the  ulterior  view  of  the  unification  of  all  our  missionary 
boards  in  the  United  States — to  report  at  the  next  ses- 
sion of  this  body." 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  323 

Upon  the  adoption  of  the  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion, the  moderator  appointed  the  following  persons  on 
the  committee  provided  for:  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford,  N.  J. 
Smith,  E.  F.  Rogers,  T.  M.  S.  Kenney  and  Dr.  B.  G. 
Tutt. 

The  contemplation  of  this  proceeding  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  was  farreaching  and  in  the  right  di- 
rection. The  immediate  result  has  not  been  "the  unifi- 
cation of  all  our  missionary  boards  in  the  United 
States,"  but  there  are  encouraging  indications  that  this 
Missouri  movement  has  not  failed  to  awaken  thought 
on  the  subject,  and  that  the  day  approaches  when  the 
great  Baptist  family  of  this  land,  where  the  Baptists  of 
the  world  do  mostly  live,  shall  see  eye  to  eye  and  be  of 
one  mind  and  one  heart  and  speak  and  do  the  same 
things,  and  that  sectional  lines  and  differences  of  polit- 
ical views  shall  not  mar  the  beauty  nor  impair  the 
strength  of  the  Lord's  hosts. 

At  Clinton,  in  1888,  at  the  fifty-fourth  annual  ses- 
sion of  the  General  Association,  the  following  action 
was  taken :  "Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be 
appointed  by  the  committee  on  unification,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  various  mission- 
ary boards  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  November  28,  1888, 
for  the  purpose  of  representing  us  in  that  meeting." 
The  committee  on  unification  designated  the  following 
committee  in  pursuance  of  the  foregoing  resolution  :  W. 
Pope  Yeaman,  S.  H.  Ford  and  E.  F.  Rogers.  This  ap- 
pointment was  confirmed  by.  the  General  Association. 

Looking  to  the  carrying  into  effect  the  suggestion 
to  unify  the  mission  work  in  Missouri,  Rev.  Manly  J. 
Breaker  gave  notice  of  certain  proposed  amendments 
to  the  constitution.  This  was  at  the  meeting  in  1888. 
In  1889  these  amendments  were  referred  to  the  commit- 
tee on  unification;  and  on  motion  the  moderator  added 
seven  members  to  the  committee,  to  wit:  M.  J. 
Breaker,  W.  R.  Painter,  J.  P.  Greene,  W.  R..Wilhite,  E. 


324  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

W.  Stephens,  W.  J.  Yates  and  J.  W.  Ford.  These 
names,  with  the  original  committee:  S.  H.  Ford,  E.  F. 
Rogers,  N.  J.  Smith,  B.  G.  Tutt  and  T.  M.  S.  Kenney, 
made  a  committee  of  eleven  members,  to  whom  was 
committed  the  whole  question  of  unification  and  consti- 
tutional amendments.  The  report  from  this  commit- 
tee, of  which  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford  was  chairman,  was 
awaited  by  the  General  Association  with  much  interest 
and  even  anxiety.  On  Thursday  evening,  October, 
1889,  the  committee  submitted  its  report.  The  hall  of 
the  house  of  representatives  at  the  capital  city  in  which 
the  Association  met,  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capac- 
ity. The  governor  of  the  state  and  many  other  state 
officials  were  present  to  witness  the  method  and  manner 
of  a  Baptist  convention  in  disposing  of  a  great  and  ex- 
citing question. 

The  committee  submitted  the  following  report : 
"In  pursuance  with  the  instructions  of  your  body 
at  Clinton,  two  members  of  this  committee,  to  wit :  S. 
H.  Ford  and  E.  F.  Rogers  attended  the  meeting  of  con- 
ference held  in  the  city  of  Richmond  (the  place  of  meet- 
ing had  been  changed  from  Washington),  Virginia,  in 
December,  1888.  At  the  meeting  there  were  present 
representatives  from  the  Missionary  Union,  the  Home 
Mission  Society,  the  Publication  Society  and  the 
Southern  Baptist  Convention.  These  representatives 
took  the  following  action :  It  was  agreed  that,  in  Mis- 
souri the  agents  representing  these  bodies  should  not 
undertake  to  collect  funds  from  churches  known  to  be 
in  sympathy  with  the  other,  and  that  the  large  territory 
which  had  evinced  no  sympathy  with  either  should  be 
cultivated  by  the  two  agents  under  an  arrangement  to 
be  agreed  upon  by  them.  This  agreement  of  the  com- 
mittee was  made  subject  to  the  ratification  of  the 
boards  of  the  Home  Mission  Society  and  of  the  Conven- 
tion, The  board  of  the  (Southern)  Convention 
promptly  ratified  the  agreement,  of  which  it  gave  notice 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  3-5 

to  the  board  of  the  (American  Baptist  Home  Mission) 
Society  in  New  York.  The  board  of  the  Society  de- 
cHned  to  ratify  it  'as  a  finahty,'  aijd  claimed  that  it  must 
be  privileged  to  appeal  to  "all  the  churches  of  Mis- 
souri." Your  committee  took  no  part  in  the* agree- 
ment and  have  no  comment  to  make  on  this  action. 

"We  have  carefully  considered  the  proposed 
amendments  and  recommend  *  ''  *  that,  the  constitu- 
tion be  amended  as  follows :  *  *  * 

"The  present  article  lo  to  be  stricken  out,  and  a 
new  article  lo  to  read:     The  board  of  General  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions,  consisting  of  nineteen  members, 
shall  have  charge  of  raising  in  this  state,  and  of  for- 
warding funds  for  these  missions.     It  shall  have  power 
to  choose  its  own  officers  and  agents,  and  shall  make  to 
the  Association  full  annual  reports  of  its  operations. 
******** 
"We  have  given  the  preamble  and  resolutions  re- 
ferred to  us  our  careful  and  prayerful  attention,  and 
while  we  recognize  the  justice  of  the  complaints  therein 
set  forth,  yet  as  a  compromise  of  conflicting  opinions, 
we  heartily  and  unanimously  recommend  the  following 
in  lieu  of  said  preamble  and  resolutions : 

"i.  We  respectfully  and  earnestly  request  the 
boards  at  Boston  and  Richmond,  and  New  York  and 
Atlanta,  immediately  to  withdraw  their  agencies  from 
our  state  and  to  leave  the  work  to  our  board. 

"2.  We  recommend  to  the  board  of  General  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions  to  conduct  its  work  in  the  way 
that  will  create  the  least  possible  friction,  and  with  the 
full  recognition  of  the  fact  that  a  very  large  majority  of 
our  members  are  in  sympathy  with  the  Southern  Baptist 
Convention. 

"3.  And  that  we  further  instruct  this  board  in  all 
its  operations  carefully  to  respect  the  known  prefer- 
ences of  brethren,  churches  and  associations,  and  to 
divide  all  funds  not  otherwise  designated  on  a  basis 


326  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

derived  from  a  comparison  of  the  receipts  in  Missouri 
of  the  several  boards  for  the  past  five  years." 

The  question  on  the  motion  to  adopt  this  report 
eHcited  an  animated  discussion  in  which  many  mem- 
bers participated,  and  also  visiting  brethren :  Dr.  I.  T. 
Tichenor,  of  the  Atlanta  board,  Dr.  Dwight  Spencer, 
representing  the  Boston  board,  and  Dr.  T.  B.  Bell,  of 
the  Richmond  board.  After  the  discussion  the  re- 
port was  adopted  by  a  rising  vote. 

The  committee  on  nominations  was  instructed  to 
report  the  names  of  nineteen  persons  to  constitute  the 
"Board  of  General  Home  and  Foreign  Missions."  That 
committee  reported  the  following  names :  E.  W. 
Stephens,  A.  F.  Fleet,  T.  W.  Barrett,  S.  F.  Taylor,  W. 
Pope  Yeaman,  E.  H.  Sawyer,  W.  R.  Wilhite,  W.  J. 
Patrick,  A.  F.  Baker,  M.  J.  Breaker,  A.  E.  Rogers,  T. 
C.  James,  T.  M.  S.  Kenney,  Louis  Hofifman,  J.  H.  Bur- 
rows, J.  P.  Greene,  J.  W.  Ford  and  E.  F.  Rogers.  This 
was  the  first  board  of  General  Home  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sions of  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association. 

The  first  regular  meeting  of  this  board,  after  ef- 
fecting permanent  organization  at  Jefferson  in  Octo- 
ber at  the  time  and  place  of  the  meeting  of  the  General 
Association,  was  held  at  Columbia,  December  3,  1889. 
A  committee  on  by-laws  had  been  appointed  at  Jeffer- 
son, of  which  the  writer  of  this  book  was  the  sole  mem- 
ber. These  by-laws,  with  a  single  amendment,  were 
adopted  by  the  board.  The  draft  of  by-laws  as  pre- 
sented for  the  consideration  of  the  board,  provided  for 
but  one  corresponding  secretary  to  have  charge  of  the 
active  operations  of  the  board.  The  proposed  laws 
were  amended  by  substituting  "two"  and  "secretaries" 
for  the  words  "a"  and  "secretary."  This  amendment 
was  carried  by  a  majority  of  one  vote  in  a  full  meeting 
of  the  board.  The  by-laws  provided  that  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  board  should  be  at  Columbia,  and  that  the 
officers  should  be  a  president,  a  secretary,  a  treasurer 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  ,^27 

and  two  corresponding  secretaries,  at  a  salary  of$i,500 
each  per  annum  for  the  corresponding  secretaries.  E. 
W.  Stephens  was  chosen  president,  T.  W.  Barrett,  sec- 
retary; A.  F.  Fleet,  treasurer  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Taylor, 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  home  department,  and 
Rev.  T.  AI.  S.  Kenney  corresponding  secretary  of  the 
foreign  department. 

Great  deliberation  and  care  was  taken  in  entering 
upon  the  work  committed  to  this  board.  The  members 
were  impressed  by  the  seriousness  and  importance  of 
the  recognized  departure  from  long  established  usages. 
Before  the  meeting  at  Columbia  for  perfecting  organ- 
ization, it  had  been  determined  at  the  preliminary  meet- 
ing not  to  enter  actively  upon  the  work  of  the  board 
until  the  first  of  the  following  January,  so  as  to  give 
the  different  boards  then  operating  through  their  agents 
in  Alissouri  ample  time  to  adjust  their  affairs  to  the 
new  order  of  procedure.  In  the  meanwhile  these  sev- 
eral boards  were  notified  of  the  appointment  of  the 
Missouri  board,  and  they  were  requested  to  withdraw 
their  agents,  which  they  did. 

President  Stephens,  in  the  first  annual  report  of  the 
board,  says :  "The  various  boards  north  and  south, 
some  of  which  at  first  looked  with  distrust  upon  our 
plan  and  were  slow  to  yield  its  cooperation,  had,  with- 
out exception,  expressed  full  satisfaction,  and  are  now, 
so  far  as  we  are  aware,  in  cordial  acquiescence.  The 
Missouri  plan  has  attracted  the  attention  of  the  country, 
and  its  success  may  yet  effect  an  innovation  in  mission- 
ary methods,  north  and  south.  The  most  gratifying 
experience  has  been  the  favor  with  which  it  has  been 
received  by  the  churches.  Their  approval  seems  to  be 
practically  unanimous.  The  spirit  of  sectionalism 
which  a  year  ago  menaced  harmony  and  prosperity  has 
disappeared,  and  the  contrasted  condition  as  evinced  at 
this  meeting  of  the  Association  is  itself  evidence  of  the 
benefit  which  has  ensued.     Nor  have  financial  resources 


32S  Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification. 

been  diminished  by  the  change.  *  *  *  The  Missouri 
plan  appeals  with  special  force  to  every  Missouri  Bap- 
tist. It  means  a  unification  of  our  missionary  work, 
a  closer  sympathy  between  the  churches,  a  burial  of 
sectional  bitterness  and  an  undoubted  impetus  to  the 
mission  cause."  In  1891  the  board  said:  "We  are  set- 
ting an  example  for  the  nation.  We  are  illustrating 
that  it  is  possible  for  a  state  to  manage  all  of  its  mis- 
sionary contributions,  foreign  and  domestic,  as  well  as 
state  and  local,  and  we  believe  that  in  the  near  future 
the  result  will  be  an  enlarged  benevolence  along  all 
these  lines,  a  more  thorough  unification  and  a  greater 
prosperity.'* 

In  February,  189T,  Rev.  S.  F.  Taylor  resigned  the 
secretaryship  of  the  home  department.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  election  of  Bro.  W.  L.  Boyer.  At  the 
close  of  the  first  year's  work  Rev.  T.  M.  S.  Kenney  de- 
clined re-election  to  the  secretaryship  of  the  foreign  de- 
partment and  was  succeeded  by  the  election  of  Rev.  B. 
G.  Tutt.  Secretaries  Taylor  and  Kenny  did  efficient  and 
successful  work.  Besides  their  collections  it  devolved 
upon  them  as  the  first  secretaries  under  the  "Missouri 
Plan"  to  explain  the  reasons  for  and  the  advantages  of 
the  departure.  They  did  their  work  well  as  the 
rapid  increase  of  the  popularity  of  the  plan  fully  cer- 
tified. 

Secretaries  Tutt  and  Boyer  continued  in  office  un- 
til October,  1896,  when  the  General  Home  and  Foreign 
Board  adopted  the  plan  originally  suggested  by  the 
writer  in  his  draft  of  the  by-laws — the  appointment  of 
but  one  secretary  for  both  departments,  and  Manly  J. 
Breaker,  D.  D.,  was  chosen  to  the  secretaryship,  and 
is  still  the  incumbent. 

Bro.  W.  L.  Boyer  is  a  layman  (?)  of  rare  ability 
as  a  speaker  on  religious  subjects.  He  is  indeed  a  very 
good  preacher  without  the  form  and  title  of  the 
clergy  (?)      His  spiritual  devotion,  courteous  deport- 


Auxiliary  Relations  and  Unification.  329 

ment  and  christian  uprightness  have  won  for  him  many 
and  abiding  friends. 

Rev.  Dr.  B.  G.  Tutt  is  so  well  known  for  his  supe- 
rior qualities  that  to  write  of  him  in  his  lifetime  seems 
superfluous.  But  it  is  hoped  that  this  little  volume  of 
history  will  survive  him,  and  that  future  generations 
may  read  of  a  man  whose  whole  manner  of  life  illus- 
trated how  the  claim  of  the  gospel  on  human  consecra- 
tion meets  with  willing  response  and  surrender  from 
the  best  talent,  and  scholarship  of  the  strongest  and 
purest  men.  Dr.  Tutt  could  have  attained  eminent 
success  in  any  sphere  of  secular  life.  But  he  made 
choice  of  the  afflictions  of  the  cross  and  has  with  un- 
flinching devotion  and  modest  demeanor  given  himself 
to  the  work  of  the  Master.  As  preacher,  pastor,  occa- 
sional contributor  to  current  religious  literature  and  as 
missionary  secretary  he  has  made  his  impress  for  good 
on  Missouri  Baptists  and  Missouri  people. 

The  unification  or  "Missouri  plan"  continues  to 
work  to  the  satisfaction  of  Missouri  Baptists,  and  it  is 
not  improbable  that  it  will  ultimately  demonstrate  itself 
as  the  best  system  of  auxiliary  relation  of  state  mission- 
ary organizations  to  more  general  societies  or  conven- 
tions. 

From  an  early  day  in  the  history  of  the  Missouri 
Baptist  General  Association  it  evinced  lively  interest 
in. all  efforts  for  the  spread  of  divine  truth,  and  made 
itself,  informally,  auxiliary  to  every  organization  that 
gave  an  opportunity  for  rendering  or  receiving  assist- 
ance in  efTorts  for  general  evangelization.  The  Amer- 
ican and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  American  Baptist 
Publication  Society,  as  well  as  to  Baptist  organizations 
originating  and  working  in  the  state.  It-has  been  sing- 
ularly free  from  jealousies  and  consequently  never  in- 
volved in  acrimonious  controversies.  And  now  moving 
on  towards  its  three  score  years  and  ten  of  constant, 
harmonious  and  progressive  work,  it  is  not  likely  ever 
to  be  less  influential  and  useful. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

EDUCATION. 

Whatever,  or  wherefore  the  prejudices  of  the  unin- 
formed concerning  Missouri,  and  the  egotistic  conceits 
of  other  religious  persuasions  concerning  the  spirit  and 
attitude  of  Baptists  to  education  and  an  educated  min- 
istry; the  truth  of  history  as  it  testifies  of  the  country 
at  large,  and  especially  to  Missouri  Baptists,  indicates 
that  the  denomination  can  well  afford  endurance  of 
gratuitous  animadversions. 

If  the  number,  progress  and  influence  of  educa- 
tional institutions  evidence  the  culture  and  intelligent 
enterprise  of  a  christian  denomination,  then  Baptists 
may  claim  preeminence  in  Missouri. 

Without  boasting,  but  with  devout  gratitude  to  a 
beneficent  providence,  and  the  guiding  spirit  of  the 
Infinite,  Missouri  Baptists  may  point  to  the  William 
Jewell  College  at  Liberty,  Missouri,  as  the  best  en- 
dowed, most  largely  patronized  and  most  widely  and 
favorably  known  non-Roman  college  in  the  state.  In 
direct  connection  with  the  General  Association,  Stephens 
College  at  Columbia  may  be  named  as  second  in  prop- 
erty value,  elegance  of  buildings  and  thoroughness  of 
equipment  to  no  other  college  for  female  education  in 
the  state.  Besides  these  there  are  others  to  be  men- 
tioned that  sustain  an  indirect  relation  to  the  General 
Association  that  rank  with  the  foremost  of  the  colleges 
of  other  denominations  in  the  state.  And  without  any 
invidiousness'of  comparison  it  may  be  unhesitatingly 
claimed  that,  for  mental  culture  and  critical  learning 
the  Missouri  Baptists  can  boast — if  boasting  is  excus- 
able— a  larger  number  of  ministers  than  any  other  de- 

330 


Education.  331 

nomination  of  christians  in  the  state.  The  time  was, 
it  is  true,  when  some  Baptists  feared,  and  that  not  with- 
out sufficient  cause  that,  mere  learning-  was  Hkely  to 
supersede  the  demand  for  spiritual  qualifications  for  the 
gospel  ministry.  This  fear  naturally  led  some  minds 
to  the  extreme  of  opposing  an  educated  ministry.  These 
conscientious,  but  ill  informed  brethren,  were  outspoken 
with  their  views,  and  other  denominations  were,  at  one 
time  in  the  history  of  our  country,  only  too  willing  and 
ever  ready  to  accept  and  proclaim  these  good  christians 
as  exponents  of  Baptist  views  of  an  educated  ministry. 
It  is  furthermore  true  that  Baptists  have  never  legis- 
lated a  certain  standard  of  education  as  an  indispensa- 
ble qualification  for  ordination  to  the  ministry.  For 
this,  there  are  two  quite  competent  reasons:  ist.  Bap- 
tists would  put  nothing  in  the  way  of  a  divine  call  to  the 
ministry:  2d.  Baptists  recognize  no  ecclesiastical  au- 
thority superior  to  the  local  church  organization.  There 
is  among  them  no  organization  of  legislative  or  judi- 
cial power  to  prescribe  qualifications  and  enforce  con- 
ditions of  the  gospel  ministry.  It  rests  with  a  local 
and  independent  church  whether  one  shall  be  admitted 
to  the  ministry  of  the  word.  There  may  be  apparent 
evils  in  such  a  system,  but,  be  that  as  it  may,  God  has 
prospered  the  Baptists  and  made  them  leaders  in  chris- 
tian education  and  in  an  educated  ministry. 

That  Baptists  were  pioneers  in  liberal  education  in 
the  British- American  colonies  and  in  the  United  States 
is  a  well  attested  fact  in  American  history.  In  i7ig 
Thomas  Hollis,  a  Baptist,  founded  two  professorships 
and  ten  scholarships  for  "poor  students"  in  Harvard 
College.  In  i722  the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association 
proposed  that  the  churches  make  inquiry  for  young 
men  "hopeful  for  the  ministry  and  inclinable  to  learn- 
ing." In  1765  Rhode  Island  College,  now  Brown  Uni- 
versity, was  organized,  and  in  i767  received  the  first 
contributions  to  its  endowment.     In  i775  a  Baptist  Ed- 


33-  Education. 

ucation  Society  was  formed  at  Charleston,  South  Car- 
olina. In  1789  the  Philadelphia  Association  gathered 
a  fund  "for  the  education  of  young  men  preparing  for 
the  gospel  ministry."  The  Warren  Association  of 
IN'lassachusetts,  did  the  same  thing  in  1793.  It  is  not 
the  province  of  this  volume  to  trace  the  history  of  Bap- 
tists educational  enterprise  and  institutions  in  the 
United  States, .any  farther  than  to  indicate  that  they 
have  never  been  opposed  to  education,  nor  to  an  edu- 
cated ministry.  It  is  now  a  truth  of  officially  authenti- 
cated statistics  that  they  have  in  institutions  of  a  high 
order  more  ministerial  students  than  any  other  denom- 
ination in  the  country.  Baptists  may  well  treat  with 
deserved  contempt  all  charges  and  insinuations  that 
they  are  an  ignorant  people.  Of  course  there  are  many 
illiterate  persons  in  their  church  memberships,  but  Bap- 
tists are  learned  enough  to  know  that  illiteracy  is  no  bar 
to  the  inheritance  of  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  Con- 
cerning Christ  it  is  said  "the  common  people  heard  Him 
gladly." 

In  Missouri,  while  it  was  yet  a  territory,  the  few 
Baptist  pioneers  were  the  first  to  take  steps  for  the  es- 
tabhshment  of  a  seminary  of  learning.  This  was  in 
what  was  sometimes  called  the  "St.  Louis  district,"  and 
the  school  was  located  in  the  region  of  the  present  site 
of  Bridgeton  or  Fee  Fee  Baptist  church: 

The  Missouri  Baptist  General  Association  was  not 
yet  ten  years  old  when  it  began  to  consider  the  matter 
of  founding  within  the  state  a  denominational  college. 
The  subject  of  originating  such  an  institution  had  been 
discussed  in  an  informal  but  earnest  way  in  the 'thirties.' 
William  Jewell,  M.  D.,  an  eminent  citizen  of  Boone 
county,  and  a  leading  Baptist  layman  became  deeply  in- 
tersted  in  the  proposition  to  establish  a  Baptist  college 
in  Missouri.  He  proposed  to  give  $10,000  as  a  money 
beginning  to  such  an  enterprise.  In  1843  the  General 
Association  influenced  and  encouraged  by  Dr.  Jewell's 


Education.  333 

munificent  offer,  appointed  a  committee  of  eminent 
brethren  to  meet  the  conditions  and  receive  the  prof- 
fered $10,000.  This  committee  consisted  of  Urial  Sc- 
bree,  R.  E.  McDaniel,  Roland  Hughes,  Wade  M.  Jack-  ' 
son.  Fielding  Wilhite,  Eli  Bass,  David  Perkins,  Wm. 
Carson.  Jordan  O'Bryan,  Jason  Harrison,  James  W. 
Waddell,  G.  M.  Bower,  and  I.  T.  Hinton,  This  com- 
mittee was  empowered  to  locate  the  college  and  "to  do 
all  other  acts  usual  and  necessary  to  carry  on  a  literary 
institution." 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Association  in  1844 
the  following  resolutions  were  adopted :  "Resolved, 
That  under  the  circumstances  of  the  denomination  in 
Missouri  it  appears  to  this  Association  that  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  raise,  at  this  time,  the  sum  required  by  Dr.  Jew- 
ell, as  the  condition  of  his  donation — and  this  Associa- 
tion feels  compelled,  respectfully,  to  decline  the  offer 
on  the  terms  mentioned. 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  our  immediate  duty  to  pro- 
vide suitable  means  for  the  gratuitous  instruction  in 
scriptural  and  general  knowledge  of  the  brethren  who 
may  be  approved  by  our  churches  and  are  desirous  to 
become  more  thoroughly  qualified  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry." 

The  action  of  the  Association  thus  far,  indicates  un- 
mistakably, two  important  truths:  First,  that  even  at 
that  early  day  in  Missouri,  Baptists  were  more  inter- 
ested in  general  education  than  the  means  at  their  com- 
mand would  enable  them  to  provide  for,  and,  second, 
that  they  were  especially  interested  in  ministerial  edu- 
cation. There  is  no  doubt  that  the  inspiration  to  the 
college  enterprise  was  a  wish  to  provide  for  an  educated 
ministry.  As  said  by  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Rothwell  in  his  ad- 
mirable address  at  the  semicentennial  meeting  of  the 
General  Association,  "The  first  thoughts  of  founding  a 
Baptist  college  were  awakened  and  chiefly  sustained  by 
the  felt  want  of  such  an  institution  for  young  men 


334  Education. 

called  of  God  to  preach  the  gospel."  Indeed,  the  solic- 
itude for  this  end  has  ever  been  very  great  with  the 
General  Association,  and  is  at  every  session  of  that  body 
an  item  of  business  commanding  greatest  attention  and 
interest.  At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association 
in  1856,  an  earnest  report  on  ministerial  education  was 
presented  by  a  committee  consisting  of  W.  M.  Jackson, 
Noah  Flood,  B.  T.  F.  Cake  and  Nathan  Ayers.  The 
following  action  was  taken  on  the  report:  "Resolved, 
That  the  pastors  throughout  the  state  be  requested  to 
read  this  report  to  their  respective  churches  at  the  first 
meeting  after  the  reception  of  the  minutes." 

From  1844,  when  the  report  on  the  Jewell  propo- 
sition was  discouraging,  until  1847,  no  decisive  action 
was  taken  in  the  matter  of  founding  the  proposed  col- 
lege, yet  the  project  was  not  permitted  to  die  for  want 
of  attention.  Feeble  and  undeveloped  as  it  was,  it  was 
nourished  and  warmed  by  generous  and  persistent  dis- 
cussion. 

In  1847,  with  the  General  Association  in  session  at 
Walnut  Grove  Baptist  meeting  house,  in  Boone  county, 
the  following  action  was  taken :  Rev.  Dr.  S.  W.  Lynd 
offered  the  following  resolution :  "Resolved,  That  a 
committee  of  five  persons  be  appointed  a  provisional 
committee  on  education,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  orig- 
inate an  institution  of  learning  for  the  Baptist  denomi- 
nation in  this  state,  provided  the  same  can  be  accom- 
plished upon  a  plan  by  which  its  endowment  and  perpe- 
tuity may  be  secured."  In  pursuance  of  this  resolu- 
tion the  following  persons  were  named  to  constitute 
the  committee  provided  for  by  the  adoption  of  the  reso- 
lution: Roland  Hughes,  William  Carson,  W.  M. 
Jackson,  R.  E.  McDaniel  and  David  Perkins. 

In  1848,  the  college  committee  reported  to  the  Gen- 
eral Association  that  the  sum  of  $16,936  had  been  se- 
cured for  promoting  the  college  enterprise,  and  recom- 
mended that  the  provisional  committee,  as  soon  as  they 


Ediication.  335 

should  think  it  advisable,  proceed  to  locate  a  college,  ac- 
cording to  the  condition  expressed  in  the  paper  to  which 
contributors  had  subscribed  their  names.  It  was  fur- 
ther provided  that  the  persons  constituting  the  provi- 
sional committee  should  be  a  committee  "to  make  appli- 
cation to  the  Legislature  of  this  state  for  a  charter  for 
the  college,  and  to  appoint  a  board  of  trustees." 

In  1849,  ^^'^th  the  General  Association  in  session  at 
Mt.  Nebo,  in  Cooper  county,  the  provisional  commit- 
tee reported,  through  Wade  M.  Jackson,  as  follows : 
"Your  committee  report  that  it  was  made  their  duty  by 
a  resolution  of  the  last  General  Association,  to  locate 
the  college  at  such  time  as  they  might  think  it  advisable  : 
in  pursuance  of  which  we  caused  notice  of  the  time  and 
place  to  be  published,  in  accordance  with  the  subscrip- 
tion, notifying  the  share-holders  to  meet  in  the  city  of 
Boonville,  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  August,  1849,  ^^^ 
the  purpose  of  locating  the  college,  and  that  on  said  aay 
there  were  884  shares  represented  by  persons  and  prox- 
ies, and  that  a  majority  of  shares  were  cast  for  the  loca- 
tion of  the  college  in  the  town  of  Liberty,  Clay  coimty. 
*  *  *  That  the  persons  locating  the  college,  did  at  the 
same  time,  compl}  with  the  act  of  incorporation  for  the 
college  (which  requires  the  persons  who  locate  the  col- 
lege to  name  the  same)  by  calling  the  college  'William 
Jewell  College.'  " 

The  charter  to  the  college  was  obtained  upon  the 
representations  and  by  the  application  of  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  General  Association.  The  charter  is 
by  action  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Missouri  Leg- 
islature, and  approved  by  the  governor,  twenty-seventh 
day  of  February,  1849,  ^"^  ^s  entitled  "An  Act  to  char- 
ter a  college  in  the  state  of  Missouri."  (See  Session 
Acts  1849,  P^g^  232.) 

As  the  question  was  occasionally  raised  in  the  past : 
Is  the  college  secure  to  the  Baptists  of  Missouri?  The 
General  Association  took  the  following  action  in  i877 : 


33^  Education. 

Bro.  G.  W.  Huntley  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted : 

"Whereas,  There  are  questions  raised  as  to  the 
statutory  guarantees  to  the  charter  and  property  of 
William  Jewell  College ;  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  members  of 
this  body,  consisting  of  the  chancellor,  W.  Pope  Yea- 
man,  Bro.  J.  L.  Peake,  and  Bro.  H.  C.  Wallace,  be  ap- 
pointed to  carefully  and  critically  examine  the  charter 
of  said  college,  and  if  any  legislation  should  be  neces- 
sary in  order  to  secure  the  rights  and  property  of  the 
Baptist  denomination,  represented  by  the  Baptist  Gen- 
eral Association,  to  the  institution,  that  said  committee 
take  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary  to  obtain  such 
legislation. 

'■'^REPORT  ON  CHARTER  OF  WILLIAM  JEWELL  COLLEGE. 

"The  committee  appointed  at  the  last  session  of  this 
body  'to  carefully  and  critically  examine  the  charter  of 
William  Jewell  College,  and  if  any  legislation  should 
be  necessary  in  order  to  secure  the  rights  and  property 
of  the  Baptist  denomination,  represented  by  the  Baptist 
General  Association  to  the  institution — that  said  com- 
mittee take  such  measures  as  may  be  necessary,  to  ob- 
tain such  legislation' — respectfully  report  that,  they 
have  as  carefully  and  critically  as  they  could,  examined 
the  charter  of  William  Jewell  College,  being  an  act  en- 
titled, 'An  Act  to  charter  a  college  in  the  state  of  Mis- 
souri,' enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of 
Missouri,  and  'approved  February  27,  1849,'  ^^^  give 
it  as  their  opinion  that  no  additional  legislation  is  nec- 
essary to  secure  the  rights  and  property  of  the  Baptist 
denomination,  as  represented  by  this  Association,  to 
said  institution.  We  think  the  act  aforesaid  gives  all 
the  powers  necessary  for  the  efficient  and  successful  op- 
eration, maintenance,  management  and  control  of  said 
college,  under  the  auspices  and  in  the  interest  of  the 
Baptists  represented  in  this  body. 


Education.  337 

"While  the  enacting  clause,  or  body  of  said  act,  does 
not  in  terms  declare  that  the  college  corporation  thereby 
constituted,  is,  or  was,  to  be,  a  Baptist  college,  still,  we 
find,  and  give  it  as  our  opinion,  that  the  purpose  and 
object  of  said  enactment,  as  gathered  and  deduced  from 
the  preamble  thereto,  was  and  is  clearly  to  enable  the 
united  Baptists  in  Missouri,  and  their  friends,  to  endow 
and  build  up  a  college  in  this  state ;  which  preamble  to 
said  charter  is  as  follows,  to  wit : 

"  'Whereas,  The  united  Baptists  in  Missouri  and 
'their  friends  are  desirous  of  endowing  and  building  up 
'of  a  college  in  the  state,  and  for  that  purpose  have  un- 
'der  the  direction  of  the  General  Association  of  Baptists 
'in  Missouri,  already  secured  pledges  to  the  amount  of 
'about  twenty  thousand  dollars  for  the  endowment  of 
'the  same,  in  shares  of  forty-eight  dollars  each,  payable 
'in  installments  of  six  dollars  per  share  annually.  Now, 
'therefore,  to  enable  the  parties  above  mentioned  to 
'carry  out  their  contemplated  purpose,' 

"  'Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
state  of  Missouri,'  etc. 

"By  the  well  established  rule  for  the  construction 
of  statutes,  'the  preamble  may  be  resorted  to  in  restraint 
of  the  generality  of  the  enacting  clause,  when  it  would 
be  inconvenient  if  not  restrained ;  or  it  may  be  resorted 
to  in  explanation  of  the  enacting  clause,  if  it  be  doubt- 
ful ;'  and  this  legal  rule  agrees  with  the  common  accep- 
tation of  the  term  'preamble,'  which  Webster  defines  to 
be  that  'which  states  the  reason  and  intent  of  the  law.' 

"The  object  and  'purpose'  of  said  charter  being  so 
manifestly  for  the  'endowing  and  building  up  of  a  col- 
lege in  this  state'  under  the  patronage  of  the  'United 
Baptists  in  Missouri'  and  their  friends'  as  deduced  from 
and  shown  by  the  preamble,  we  have  no  hesitancy  in 
saying  that,  in  our  opinion,  no  respectable  and  compe- 
tent court  would  ever  fail  to  declare :  For  over  a  quar- 
ter of  a  century,  the  Baptists  of  Missouri,  have  been 

22 


33^  Education. 

engaged  in  building,  endowing,  and  controlling  a  col- 
lege under  said  charter,  by  the  name  of  William  Jewell 
College,  and  no  question  as  to  their  right  to  do  so,  has 
ever  been  raised  by  the  state  or  any  other  corporation 
or  denomination;  nor  have,  their  legal  rights  to  the 
property  of  said  corporation  ever  been  questioned  in  the 
courts;  and  we  feel  satisfied  if  such  questions  had  been, 
or  should  be  raised,  they  would  be  decided  in  favor  of 
the  college  and  the  United  Baptists  of  Missouri.  We 
repeat,  therefore,  that  in  our  opinion,  no  further  legis- 
lation is  necessary  to  secure  the  right  and  property  of 
the  Baptist  denomination  represented  in  this  Associa- 
tion to  said  institution ;  and  we  would  further  say  that 
we  regard  the  agitation  of  this  subject  as  unfortunate; 
as  tending  to  impair  the  confidence  of  the  Baptist 
brotherhood  an^  their  friends  in  the  stability  and  per- 
manency of  William  Jewell  College  as  a  Baptist  insti- 
tution :  so  long  as  the  Baptists  of  the  state  do  their  duty 
and  control  as  they  have  a  right  to  do,  under  said  char- 
ter, the  appointment  of  professors,  officers,  agents  and 
teachers  of  William  Jew^ell  College,  and  maintain  and 
support  said  institution,  so  long  will  it  be  and  remain  a 
Baptist  college  under  the  auspices  of  the  Baptist  de- 
nomination represented  in  this  Association. 
"All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman, 
H.  C.  Wallace,     ' 

of  Committee." 
It  is  not  the  plan  of  this  chapter  to  give  a  history 
of  the  Wm.  Jewell  College.  That  duty  has  been  ad- 
mirably performed  by  Prof.  J.  C.  Clarke,  of  Wm.  Jewell 
College,  and  published  in  a  handsome  volume.  The 
aim  of  this  work  is  to  set  forth  the  interest  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  in  christian  education  and  the  intimate 
and  altogether  satisfactory  relation  the  college  sustains 
to  the  Association. 


WILLIAM   JEWELL. 


Education.  339 

It  has  been  slated,  and  correctly  so.  that  the  Wil- 
Ham  Jewell  College  does  not  belong  to  the  General  As- 
sociation. As  a  legal  proposition  this  statement  is  en- 
tirely true.  Nevertheless  the  College  does  belong  to 
the  Baptists  of  Missouri  by  legislation,  by  common 
law  and  by  tradition.  It  is  perhaps  better  that  the  re- 
lation should  be  just  as  it  is.  The  General  Association, 
even  if  it  could  hold  the  title  to  property,  might  by  some 
peradventure  cease  to  exist.  In  such  an  event,  if  it  held 
the  title  to  the  property  of  the  College,  the  college 
would  in  law,  cease  to  exist.  The  board  of  trustees 
who  hold  the  title  to  the  College  property  can  not  be- 
come extinct  unless  they  choose  to  do  so.  Then  and  in 
such  an  event,  the  Baptists  in  the  state  would  have  full 
remedy  in  equity  and  could  provide  another  board  of  , 
trustees.  There  is  no  earthly  reason  why  the  Baptists 
of  Missouri  should  desire  any  change  in  the  legal  status 
of  the  College,  unless  it  should  be  such  amendment  of 
the  charter  providing  that  no  one  but  a  Baptist  in  good 
standing  in  some  Baptist  church  be  qualified  for  a 
trustee  of  the  institution.  But  as  the  College  is  now 
practically  fifty  years  old,  and  no  trouble  has  arisen, 
prescription  settles  all  possible  questions  of  title. 

For  many  years  the  General  Association  has  nom- 
inated to  the  board  of  trustees  all  members  that  have 
been  chosen  by  the  board  for  terms  of  office  or  to  fill 
vacancies.  So  that  time  and  custom  have  fixed  the  re- 
lation between  the  College  and  Association  as  close  and 
permanent  as  could  be  done  by  statute,  and  safer  than 
by  such  bungling  statutes  as  sometimes  come  from 
legislatures. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  make  a  safer  investment 
than  by  putting  money  into  the  endowment  or  realty  of 
the  Wm.  Jewell  College.  Nor  does  the  General  Asso- 
ciation do  a  better  work  than  that  of  fostering  and  pro- 
moting the  interests  of  that  institution,  which  it  has 
continuously  done  since  the  inception  of  the  enterprise. 


340  Education. 

The  two  institutions  are  so  historically  interwoven 
that,  to  think  of  or  suggest  either  of  them  is  to  recall  to 
mind  the  other.  God  has  joined  them  together  and 
none  can  put  them  asunder. 

Dr.  William  Jew^ell,  for  whom  the  college  was 
named,  was  a  native  of  Louden  county,  Virginia,  and 
was  born  the  first  day  of  January,  1789.  The  family 
left  Virginia  and  settled  in  Gallatin  county,  Kentucky. 
William  Jewell  studied  medicine  in  Nelson  county, 
Kentucky,  after  which  he  matriculated  at  Transylvania 
University,  where  he  took  the  degree  of  M.  D. 

He  moved  to  Missouri  in  1820  and  settled  in 
Franklin  (now  called  old  Franklin)  in  Howard  county. 
After  a  residence  of  two  years  in  that  historic  town,  he 
removed  to  Columbia.  He  became  eminent  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  as  a  citizen.  As  a  physician  he  was  ambi- 
tious for  high  rank,  but  none  the  less  conscientious  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  to  his  patients.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  respect  for  his  profession,  and  as  well  as  a  senso 
of  duty,  he  was  a  constant  and  life-long  student.  As  a 
citizen  he  w^as  active  and  disinterested  in  every  public 
enterprise  contemplating  general,  material  and  social 
improvement.  He  was  frequently  honored  by  the  call 
and  suffrages  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  posts  of  public 
duty  and  trust.  He  repeatedly  served  in  either  branch 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Legislature.  In  such 
relations  he  was  superior  to  the  influences  that  too  often 
control  the  law-makers  of  a  state.  His  sense  of  right 
and  his  disinterestedness  bore  him  above  all  sinister 
considerations  such  as  influence  the  mere  politician. 

But  it  is  especially  his  christian  character  and  life 
that  give  his  name  deserved  preeminence.  He  was 
more  than  a  mere  professor  of  faith  and  church  mem- 
ber. His  life  and  his  possessions  were  consecrated  to 
his  divine  Master.  To  do  good  to  other  men  was  his 
chief  aim.  His  church,  and  missions  and  education 
had  first  claim  on  his  time,  his  talent  and  his  means. 


Education.  34' 

His    religion    entered    into    his    professional    services. 
Conscientiously  doing  all  that  was  possible  for  the  re- 
covery of  the  health  of  his  patients,  he  was  ever  ready 
when' the  hope  of  physical  recovery  was  gone,  to  min- 
ister to  the  comfort  or  seek  the  salvation  of  the  dying. 
On  the  east  hill  at  Liberty  is  the  noblest  monument 
that  could  have  been  built  to  the  memory  of  a  good  and 
truly  great  man.     On  the  seventh  day  of  August,  1852, 
the  spirit  of  Dr.  William  Jewell  took  its  flight  from 
Liberty,  Missouri,  where  he  had  devoted,  as  building 
commissioner  of  the  college,  his  best  energies  to  a  fond 

duty.  .  . 

Another   monument   adorns   College   Hill.     It   is 
"Ely  Hall,"  named  in  honor  of  Lewis  B.  Ely,  who  de- 
voted the  last  twenty  years  of  a  life  both  good  and 
grand,  and  grand  because  good,  to  the  interests  of  an 
institution  for  which  he  seemed  willing  to  lay  down  that 
life.     For  years  he  was  the  efficient,  cautious  and  suc- 
cessful financial  agent  of  the  college— in  fact  its  min- 
ister   of    exchequer.      Everything    pertaining    to    the 
finances  of  the  college  was  committed  to  his  judgment 
and  management  from  i8?7  to  iSgT.     He  was  in  all 
matters  save  class  work  and  discipline,  de  facto  the 
president  of  the  college.  President  Greene,  of  William 
Jewell  College,  has  written  of  Bro.  Ely :  "He  was  not 
a  preacher,  and  yet  he  did  more  and  better  preaching 
than  any  of  us.     He  was  no  lawyer,  and  yet  in  matters 
of  business  involving  points  of  law  his  counsel  was  as 
safe  as  that  of  the  wisest  attorney.     He  was  in  no  sense 
a  collegian,  not  having  gone  to  school  a  day  since  he 
was  fourteen  years  of  age,  but  I  am  frank  to  say  he  had 
more  college  sense  than  any  man  I  ever  knew." 

There  was  no  man  in  Missouri  who  commanded 
more  genuine  respect,  and  for  whom  there  was  more 
genuine  love,  than  Lewis  B.  Ely.  Starting  in  life  with- 
out fortune,  and  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  the 
age  of    fourteen    years,    he  amassed   a  considerable 


342  Education. 

fortune,  maintained  an  unblemished  character,  was  ac- 
tive in  all  religious  and  benevolent  enterprises  and 
abounding  in  liberality  with  his  money.  He  was  for 
more  than  thirty  years  an  active  member  of  the  General 
Association,  and  for  three  consecutive  years  its  hon- 
ored moderator. 

Lewis  B.  Ely  was  born  in  Frankfort,  Kentucky, 
May  i8,  1825,  and  died  at  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  Jane 
18,  1897. 

In  October,  1898,  James  L.  Applegate,  a  deacon 
of  Third  Baptist  church,  St.  Louis,  was  chosen  by  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  Wm.  Jewell  College  as  finan- 
cial agent.  He  has  been  for  many  years  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Association,  and  its  auditor  by  re- 
peated annual  elections  for  a  number  of  years.  He  has 
served  several  consecutive  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  State  Missions  and  Sunday  Schools.  The  St. 
Louis  Baptist  Sanitarium  and  the  society  for  the  relief 
of  aged  and  dependent  ministers  have  had  his  efficient 
and  effective  official  service,  since  the  time  of  their  or- 
ganization. He  was  a  devoted  friend  and  ardent  ad- 
mirer of  the  lamented  L.  B.  Ely,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
the  mantle  of  the  departed  worthy  may  suitably  rest 
upon  his  chosen  successor. 

There  is  an  interesting  and  equally  important 
period  in  the  history  of  the  William  Jewell  College,  and 
that  can  not  with  propriety  be  omitted  from  this  chap- 
ter. It  was  resolved  by  the  "American  Baptist  Edu- 
cation Commission"  to  utilize  the  centennial  of  Ameri- 
can independence  (i876)  in  the  interest  of  Baptist 
colleges  in  the  United  States,  and  in  1873  Dr.  J.  W. 
Warder  introduced  for  the  action  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation, the  following  preamble  and  resolution  : 

"Whereas,  The  American  Baptist  Educational 
Commission  have  proposed  that  a  combined  and  general 
effort  be  made  by  the  Baptist  denomination  of  the 
United    States,   to  raise   funds   for   the  promotion   of 


Education.  343 

higher  eckication,  this  effort  to  culminate  during  the 
centennial  of  the  National  independence,  therefore  be  it 

^'Resolved,  That  the  General  Association  of  Mis- 
souri gives  its  hearty  indorsement  to  this  great  move- 
ment, and  that  brethren  A.  H.  Burlingham,  W.  Pope 
Yeaman  and  S.  H.  Ford  be  a  committee  to  confer  with 
the  executive  board  of  the  American  Baptist  Educa- 
tion Commission  in  regard  to  the  best  plan  for  realiz- 
ing the  object  of  the  centennial  in  our  state,  and  make 
report  thereof  at  the  next  session  of  this  body." 

The  committee  provided  for  in  this  resolution,  in 
the  hope  of  accomplishing  decided  results  for  educa- 
tion in  Missouri,  immediately  put  itself,  through  its 
chairman,  in  correspondence  with  Dr.  S.  S.  Cutting, 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Commission,  and  to  the 
General  Association  for  1874,  recommended  that  the 
work  be  organized  and  vigorously  prosecuted  in  Mis- 
souri. The  committee  was  by  action  of  the  Associa- 
tion, continued  for  another  year  with  instructions  to 
perfect  a  plan  in  accordance  with  the  suggestions  of 
the  report. 

At  the  meeting  in  1875  the  committee  reported 
urging  the  work  upon  the  attention  of  the  Association. 
In  the  meantime  the  Education  Commission  had  held 
a  meeting  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  had  designated 
W.  Pope  Yeaman  as  the  member  of  the  Commission  for 
Missouri.  This  appointment  made  him,  under  the  con- 
stitution of  the  Commission,  a  member  of  the  South- 
western Advisory  Board.  This  board  was  called  to 
meet  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  April,  1875.  Before  at- 
tending that  meeting  the  Missouri  member  had  a  con- 
ference with  the  trustees  of  the  William  Jewell  College, 
of  which  board  he  was  a  member.  It  was  the  opinion 
of  the  board  that  the  centennial  effort  should  be  con- 
centrated upon  that  college.  The  financial  condition 
of  the  college  was  such  that  the  board  of  trustees  had 
been  compelled  to  ask  of  the  faculty  a  curtailment  of 


344  Education. 

their  vSalaries,  and  would  possibly  have  to  do  so  for  the 
next  year.  It  was  in  view  of  this  condition  that  the 
board  instructed  the  Missouri  member  of  the  Commis- 
sion to  urge  an  indorsement  of  the  singleness  of  the  ef- 
fort in  Missouri.  It  was  then  asserted  and  agreed  thatas 
soon  as  the  William  Jewell  College  was  relieved  of  the 
then  pressing  emergency,  the  interests  of  other  Baptist 
colleges  in  the  state,  and  especially  Stephens  College, 
which  had  by  action  of  the  General  Association  been 
made  the  denominational  school  of  the  state  for  female 
education,  should  have  the  attention  and  aid  of  the 
churches,  with  the  influence  of  the  trustees  of  William 
Jewell  College. 

With  these  instructions  and  with  this  understand- 
ing, the  Missouri  member  of  the  Commission  proceeded 
to  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  attended  the  meeting  of 
the  Southwestern  Advisory  Committee,  and  suggested 
that  the  committee  indorse  and  recommend  the  pro- 
posed plan  for  Missouri.  This  the  committee  did,  and 
suggested  a  meeting  in  Missouri  of  Baptist  educators 
and  educationists.  Such  a  meeting  was  called  for  Jef- 
ferson City,  for  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May,  1875. 
This  meeting  was  well  attended  by  representatives  of 
different  Baptist  Colleges  in  the  state.  After  extended 
and  somewhat  controversial  discussion  of  the  plan  pro- 
posed, it  was  decided  to  adopt  that  plan  on  condition 
that,  when  the  centennial  effort  was  closed,  the  other 
colleges,  and  especially  Stephens  College  were  to  have 
an  open  field  in  the  state. 

When  the  centennial  committee,  appointed  in  1873, 
and  continued  by  the  General  Association,  came  to- 
gether to  prepare  a  report  for  the  session  for  1875,  W. 
Pope  Yeaman  proposed  to  incorporate  in  it  the  report 
of  the  Jefferson  City  convention  of  the  preceding  May. 
To  this  proposition,  the  other  members  of  the  commit- 
tee, Drs.  A.  H.  Burlingham  and  S.  H.  Ford,  objected, 
on  the  ground  of  discrimination  in  favor  of  the  William 


Education.  345 

Jewell  College,  as  against  the  rights  and  interests  of 
other  institutions.  All  three  members  of  the  commit- 
tee signed  a  report  omitting  any  reference  to  the  Jef- 
ferson City  proceedings  of  May  28,  1875.  Yeaman 
said  he  would  not  present  a  minority  report,  but  that, 
when  the  Association  proceeded  to  consider  the  report, 
he  would,  as  a  private  member,  offer  an  amendment  to 
the  report,  embracing  the  action  of  the  Jefferson  City 
meeting. 

The  amendment  was  offered  as  follows : 

"(i)  That  we  cordially  indorse  and  commend  the 
action  taken  by  the  American  Baptist  Educational  Com- 
mission, in  calling  the  Baptist  educational  mass  meet- 
ing at  Jefferson  City,  for  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May, 
1875,  for  the  purpose  of  better  perfecting  and  organ- 
izing the  centennial  work  in  Missouri ;  and  that  we  ap- 
preciate and  commend  the  work  and  labors  of  the  cen- 
tral centennial  committee  appointed  by  said  mass  meet- 
ing, as  being  highly  promotive  of  the  best  interests  of 
the  Baptist  cause  in  this  state. 

"2.  That  while  we  extend  our  hearty  sympathy 
and  give  our  earnest  prayers  to  all  our  denominational 
schools,  and  recommend  their  thorough  and  efficient 
endowment  at  the  earliest  practical  moment,  and  while 
we  recognize  the  unquestioned  right  of  every  brother 
to  give  whatever  direction  he  may  desire  to  his  bene- 
factions; yet,  we  most  cordially  and  earnestly  recom- 
mend to  the  churches  and  Baptists  of  the  state  that,  the 
centennial  movement  be  prosecuted  with  special  and 
particular  reference  to  the  completion  of  a  full,  efficient 
endowment  of  William  Jewell  College,  with  special 
reference  to  ministerial  education;  believing  that,  as  a 
missionary  body,  our  first  and  most  imperative  duty  is 
to  prepare  for  the  better  and  more  thorough  education 
of  our  young  ministers. 

"3.  That  a  committee  of  seventeen  be  appointed 
by  this  body,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  organize  the 


34^  Education. 

Baptists  of  Missouri  for  the  prosecution  of  the  centen- 
nial movement  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  these 
resolutions." 

This  amendment  was  adopted  by  an  overwhelm- 
ing majority. 

On  Saturday  afternoon  of  the  Association,  while 
the  author  of  the  amendment  was  seated  in  a  railroad 
coach  at  the  St.  Joseph  depot,  having  left  the  Associa- 
tion to  be  at  his  church  the  next  day,  the  following  tele- 
gram was  handed  him :  "Come  back  to  the  Association 
immediately,  or  all  is  lost." 

(Signed)  H.  C.  Wallace, 

J.   B.  WORNALL." 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Murphy  was  sitting  in  a  nearby  seat 
in  the  coach,  and  asked  if  anything  serious  had  been 
telegraphed?  The  telegram  was  then  read  to  him  by 
the  recipient.  Dr.  Murphy  said :  "Well,  you  will  go 
back,  won't  you?"     "No,"  was  the  reply. 

Just  then,  as  the  train  had  begun  to  move,  a  hand 
was  laid  on  the  shoulder  of  the  last  speaker,  and  there 
fell  upon  his  ears  these  words :  "Yes,  you  shall,"  and 
looking  up  he  saw  Prof.  A.  F.  Fleet  moving  off  with  the 
valise  of  the  receiver  of  the  telegram.  He  followed 
his  "grip."  When  he  left  the  train  it  was  in  motion. 
The  omnibus  had  left  the  depot — no  street  cars  then — 
no  carriages  left  at  depot.  The  walk  to  the  church,  full 
a  mile,  was  rapid  and  fatiguing. 

Upon  reaching  the  Association,  it  was  found  that 
the  body  had  voted  to  reconsider  the  question  upon  the 
motion  to  adopt  the  amendment  to  the  report  of  the 
centennial  committee.  The  question  then  pending  was 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  amendment. 

A  discussion  followed,  the  like  of  which,  it  is 
hoped,  will  never  again  occur  in  our  blessed  General 
Association.  The  amendment  was  readopted  with 
only  six  dissenting  votes. 


Education.  347 

The  policy  of  concentrating  the  centennial  effort 
oil  the  William  Jewell  College  was  settled.  In  June. 
18.75,  \y.  Pope  Yeaman  was  made  chancellor  of  the 
college,  having  declined  election  to  the  presidency.  He 
was  made  chairman  of  the  centennial  committee  of  sev- 
enteen, raised  by  the  General  Association  in  October, 
1875.  The  other  members  of  the  committee  were:  W. 
M.  Bell,  A.  H.  Burlingham,  S.  H.  Ford,  J.  B.  Wornall, 
G.  W.  Hyde,  Jas.  L.  Stephens,  H.  Talbird,  J.  C.  Maple, 
A.  J.  Miller,  T.  W.  Barrett,  G.  W.  Morehead,  Geo. 
Kline,  J.  L.  Peak,  G.  W.  Huntley,  C.  H.  Hardin,  W.  D. 
Shepherd. 

This  committee  requested  its  chairman,  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  chancellor  of  the  college,  to  conduct  the  work. 
He  made  a  canvass  of  the  state  delivering  addresses 
upon  the  centennial  of  American  independence  in  its 
relation  to  the  progress  of  education  and  freedom  of 
conscience  in  matters  of  religious  faith. 

The  committee  reported  to  the  General  Associa- 
tion at  its  session  in  Hannibal  in  i876,  that  through  the 
labors  of  its  chairman  the  sum  of  $22,041  had  been 
raised  in  money  and  notes  for  the  college.  At  this 
meeting  of  the  Association,  at  the  recommendation  of 
the  centennial  conmiittee,  a  committee  of  seventeen  was 
appointed  and  called  the  college  endowment  committee, 
designed  to  continue  the  work  after  the  expiration  of 
the  centennial  movement.  This  committee  consisted 
of  W.  M.  Bell,  J.  C.  Maple,  G.  W.  Hyde,  W.  R.  Roth- 
well,  T.  W.  Barrett,  J.  B.  Wornall,  A.  F.  Fleet,  FranV 
Ely,  W.  C.  Busby,  T.  J.  Musgrove,  G.  L.  Black,  D.  G. 
Minter,  W.  J.  Patrick,  M.  L.  Laws,  J.  L.  Peak,  George 
Kline,  and  W.  Pope  Yeaman.  On  motion  of  W.  AT. 
Bell,  Yeaman  was  made  chairman  of  the  endowment 
committee. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  the  efforts  of  the  centennial 
movement  and  of  the  endowment  committee,  while  not 


34.8  Education. 

adding  materially  to  the  endowment  fund,  gave  a  fresh 
impetus  to  the  college  and  contributed  immeasurably 
to  the  prosperity  that  soon  followed.  That  no  more 
money  was  raised  by  the  centennial  effort  is  explained 
by  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  college  in  their  report  to 
the  Association  for  i876:  "In  these  respects  the  trus- 
tees can  report  that  the  institution  during  the  past  year 
has  not  only  held  its  own,  but  even  made  advance. 
While  saying  this,  it  is  matter  of  regret  that  they  must 
also  say  that  during  that  period  they  have  not  been  able 
to  add  anything  of  moment  to  the  permanent  endow- 
ment funds.  The  causes  of  this  are  two,  viz.:  ist. 
The  financial  condition  of  the  country,  and  this  readily 
suggests  itself  to  anyone  acquainted  with  public  affairs ; 
and,  2d.  The  inability  of  the  trustees  to  secure  a  person 
who  can  make  the  endowment  of  the  college,  if  need 
be,  his  life  work." 

From  this  time  until  his  death,  L.  B.  Ely  devoted 
much  of  his  busy  time  to  the  material  interests  of  the 
college,  greatly  developing  the  revived  spirit  of  college 
work,  resulting  in  removing  the  embarrassments  under 
which  the  college  had  suffered  for  years,  as  well  as  to 
add  largely  to  its  material  wealth. 

What  has  now  been  written  is  sufficient  to  fully 
indicate  the  intimate,  continuous  and  effective  relation 
of  the  General  Association  to  William  Jewell  College 
from  the  inception  of  that  institution  to  this  day  of  its 
strength  and  prosperity. 

The  board  of  trustees  as  now  organized  has  R.  E. 
Turner,  Esq.,  of  St.  Joseph,  as  president;  Jas.  L.  Ap- 
plegate,  as  treasurer  and  general  agent,  and  G.  L. 
Black,  D.  D.,  as  secretary.  Second  to  L.  B.  Ely,  no 
man  not  in  administrative  connection  with  the  college 
has  been  more  useful  in  promoting  its  progress  than 
Dr.  Black.  Aside  from  his  efficient  and  faithful  offi- 
cial work  he  has  as  preacher,  pastor  and  citizen  ever 
been  an  active,  prayerful  and  influential  friend  of  the 


Education.  349 

institution.  As  financial  agent  of  the  board  of  ministe- 
rial education  he  rendered  invaluable  service  for  many 
years.  But  office  nor  salary  were  necessary  to  enlist 
the  best  energies  of  this  man  of  consecrated  brains  and 
affections. 

If  Dr.  G.  L.  Black  were  not  a  living  man  it  would 
be  a  pleasure  to  write  him  in  history  as  a  model 
preacher,  a  christian  citizen  and  the  realization  of  an 
ideal  gentleman.  But  it  is  pleasant  to  indulge  the 
fancy  that,  in  a  hundred  years  in  the  future,  the  occa- 
sional reader  of  this  chapter  will  reflect  that  there  lived 
and  labored  in  Missouri  a  Baptist  who  as  preacher, 
pastor  and  general  public  servant,  envied  no  man  his 
position,  was  jealous  of  none,  rejoiced  with  those  who 
rejoiced  and  wept  with  those  who  wept;  a  wise  coun- 
sellor, a  safe  exemplar  and  a  sincere  friend. 

The  General  Association  has  had  no  warmer  ad- 
herent, no  more  useful  colaborer  and  none  less  self- 
seeking  than  this  brother  beloved  and  honored  by  all 
who  know  him.  Under  his  labors  in  connection  with 
the  board  of  ministerial  education  the  department  of 
theology  has  witnessed  an  immense  increase  of  students, 
and  the  provision  for  their  education  and  material  as- 
sistance has  become  less  a  burden  than  hitherto. 

The  interests  of  Baptists  in  education  has  not  been 
confined  to  the  education  of  males.  The  education  of 
women  is  not  undervalued  by  the  intelligence  and 
christian  understanding  of  the  denomination.  It  is 
admitted  on  all  hands  that  the  excellency  of  the  home, 
the  good  conditions  of  society,  the  purity  and  progress 
of  the  churches  and  the  stability  and  worth  of  the  state 
are  dependent  upon  intelligent  and  upright  wifehood 
and  motherhood.  The  reasons  for  woman's  superior 
influence  are  written  in  human  nature  and  in  the  his- 
tory of  social  progress,  and  need  no  elaboration  here. 
The  man  who  has  failed  to  see  that  the  pillars  of  the 
fabric  of  civilization  rest  upon  the  home  hearthstone  is 


35^  Education. 

too  obtuse  to  be  reached  by  disquisition  or  the  logic  of 
facts. 

The  only  serious  fault  in  the  American  system  of 
education  by  colleges  is  that  institutions  for  the  educa- 
tion of  males  have,  in  the  main  part,  received  the  mu- 
nificence of  the  patrons  of  education  in  the  endowment 
and  thorough  equipment  of  colleges.  For  this  discrim- 
ination there  is  no  competent  explanation.  It  is  a 
relict  of  mediaeval  misconception  of  the  dignity  and 
worth  of  womanhood. 

A  long  established  precedent  is  difficult  of  removal, 
even  after  its  fallacy  has  been  discovered.  But  the  in- 
telligence and  conscience  of  the  American  people  are 
awakening  to  the  call  of  the  rights  of  woman  to  the 
highest  intellectual  and  moral  recognition.  The  pres- 
ent generation  is  likely  to  witness  the  ample  endowment 
of  colleges  for  the  education  of  females. 

In  i87o,  when  the  General  Association  was  in  ses- 
sion with  the  Second  Baptist  church  in  St.  Louis,  the 
committee  of  the  preceding  year  "on  State  Female  Col- 
lege" submitted  a  lengthy  report.  The  committee  was 
composed  of  E.  S.  Dulin,  S.  C.  Major,  R.  H.  Smith 
and  W.  R.  Roth  well.  The  committee  quoted  from 
the  report  of  the  preceding  year  the  following  very 
pertinent  and  strong  deliverances :  "We  plead  for  as 
extensive  and  thorough  intellectual  culture  for  our 
daughters  as  we  provide  for  our  sons.  We  can  not 
see  why  our  daughters,  possessed  of  equal  mental  abil- 
ities, should  be  robbed  of  their  birthright,  by  being  de- 
nied equal  advantages.  Reason,  justice,  revelation; 
the  position  assigned  to  woman  by  her  creator,  the 
sphere  in  which  she  moves ;  the  fact  that  she  is  the  first 
teacher  of  every  generation,  all  combine  to  render  it 
obligatory  that  enlarged  provision  be  made  for  her 
mental  development  and  education.  We  believe  the 
time  has  already  come  when  we  should  rear  a  female 
college,  a  college  not  in  name  but  in  fact — endowed  as 


Education.  35 1 

richly  and  amply  supplied  as  we  contemplate  doing  for 
William  Jewell  College.  We  would  have  it  a  separate 
and  independent  institution,  furnishing  our  daughters 
every  facility  that  our  universities  furnish  our  sons." 

The  committee  reported  further  and  urged :  "We 
believe  that  such  an  institution  is  needed,  because  par- 
ents are  compelled  to  seek,  out  of  our  state,  higher 
culture  and  larger  advantages  for  their  daughters,  than 
can  be  obtained  at  home  in  our  denominational  schools. 

"Therefore,  In  addition  to  the  schools  which  we 
now  have,  or  may  have  of  a  similar  grade,  we  should 
have  a  college  equal  to  the  best  out  of  the  state,  and  will 
afford  our  daughters  every  facility  for  acquiring  as 
thorough  an  education — literary,  scientific  and  orna- 
mental— as  can  be  obtained  elsewhere." 

Upon  the  adoption  by  the  General  Association,  of 
the  report  from  which  these  extracts  are  taken,  Dr.  E. 
S.  Dulin  moved  that,  "we  now  proceed  to  locate  the 
Baptist  female  college  for  the  state."  This  motion 
prevailed,  and  nominations  of  points  of  location  were 
made :  Columbia,  Lexington  and  Jennings  Station  were 
put  in  nomination.  The  vote  resulted  in  the  choice  of 
Columbia,  with  the  understanding  and  agreement  that 
the  property  of  Baptist  college  located  at  Columbia, 
with  all  of  its  rights,  possessions  and  hereditaments 
should  be  tranf erred  to  a  board  of  curators  to  be  held 
in  trust  for  the  General  Association. 

After  the  vote  resulting  in  the  choice  of  Columbia 
had  been  formally  and  officially  announced,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted : 

^'Resolved,  That  we  accept  the  offer  made  by  the 
curators  of  Baptist  Female  College  at  Columbia." 

Brethren  Wm.  Carson,  J.  R.  Yates  and  J.  T.  Wil- 
liams were  appointed  a  committee  to  nominate  curators 
for  the  State  Female  College. 

This  committee  submitted  nominations  which  were 
confirmed.     The  following  named  persons  constituted 


35^  Ediication. 

the  first  board  of  "'curators  of  the  State  Female  Col- 
lege:" J.  L.  Stephens,  J.  M.  Robinson,  W.  T.  Hick- 
man, James  Harris,  R.  T.  Prewitt,  S.  T.  Hughes,  N. 
J.  Smith,  X.  X.  Buckner,  George  Buell.  J.  W.  Russell, 
Noah  Flood,  A.  Ellis,  T.  H.  Hickman,  G.  W.  Hyde,  W. 
Carson,  W.  H.  Vardeman,  Marshall  Brotherton,  A.  R. 
Levering,  A.  C.  Avery,  O.  Houx,  E.  W.  Stephens,  E. 
S.  Dulin,  C.  Whiting,  G.  T.  Brayton,  H.  C.  Lollar,  L. 
Wilson,  Joel  Guthrie,  J.  F.  Cook,  J.  M.  Flemming  and 
D.  M.  Ford. 

The  General  Association  having  located  and  or- 
ganized the  State  Female  College,  the  following  pream- 
ble and  resolution  were  offered  and  adopted : 

"Whereas,  We  have  heard  with  pleasure,  the 
purpose  of  Bro.  J.  L.  Stephens  to  endow  the  Baptist 
Female  College  at  Columbia,  now  adopted  as  the  state 
institution,  with  a  fund  of  at  least  $20,000,  as  well  as  to 
otherw^ise  liberally  aid  the  school,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  we  recommend  to  the  board  of 
curators  that  as  soon  as  said  purposes  shall  be  executed, 
they  take  the  necessary  steps  to  have  the  charter  so 
amended  that  the  school  may  hereafter  be  known  as  the 

STEPHENS   FEMALE  COLLEGE. 

Thus  was  established  and  named  by  act  of  the 
General  Association,  a  college  of  the  denomination  of 
Baptists  in  Missouri,  for  the  education  of  females. 

Subsequent  to  this  action  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion, the  constitution  of  that  body  was  so  amended  as 
to  give  Stephens  College  organic  connection  with  the 
General  Association.  And  by  yet  more  subsequent 
action  the  General  Association  has  urged  the  full  and 
ample  endowment  in  pursuance  of  originally  declared 
necessity  and  purpose.  The  college  buildings  and  cam- 
pus equal,  if  not  superior  to  any  in  the  state,  the  endow- 
ment cottages  which  from  rentals  have  already  yielded 
to  current  expense  account  not  less  than  $25,000,  and 
as  they  are  the  permanent  property  of  the  institution, 


JAMES    L.  STEPHENS. 


Education.  •  353 

must,  so  long  as  kept  in  repair,  continue  to  yield  an  an- 
nual revenue  to  current  expense  account,  offer  and  se- 
cure a  nucleus  of  endowment  that  puts  the  possibility 
of  the  loss  of  additional  endowment  beyond  peradven- 
ture.  The  present  president  of  the  college,  Sam  Frank 
Taylor,  D  D.,  is  under  instructions  from  the  board  of 
curators  to  prosecute  the  work  of  enlarging  the  endow- 
ment. 

It  is  eminently  proper  in  this  connection  to  record 
a  brief  sketch  of  Hon.  James  L.  Stephens,  for  whom 
the  Baptist  "Female  College  of  the  State"  is  named. 
This  venerable  and  useful  brother,  now  beyond  four 
score  years,  is  at  this  writing  living  at  his  antique  and 
picturesque  home  in  Columbia.  His  health  has  been 
remarkably  preserved,  and  he  manifests  an  unabated 
interest  in  the  college  and  in  his  church,  and  is  by  no 
means  indifferent  to  the  improvements  of  the  city  and 
the  advancement  of  the  great  State  University,  having 
its  seat  only  a  few  blocks  from  the  college  bearing  his 
name. 

He  has  served  his  day  and  generation  to  a  good 
purpose.  His  active,  enterprising,  successful  business 
career  was  a  long  and  continuous  contribution  to  the 
prosperity  of  his  town  and  county.  As  farmer  and 
merchant  and  investor  he  has  pursued  an  intelligent 
line  of  economics  and  maintained  a  high  character  for 
business  integrity  and  uprightness.  As  a  citizen  in 
public  life  he  has  been  active  and  influential.  As  a 
member  of  the  state  senate  he  brought  to  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  as  a  statesman  his  long  and  varied  experi- 
ence as  a  public  spirited  business  man  and  a  lively  in- 
terest in  all  measures  that  looked  to  the  development  of 
the  vast  resources  of  the  state,  the  lessening  of  the  bur- 
dens of  the  tax-payer  and  the  enlargement  of  educa- 
tional facilities  by  the  state,  ever  guarding  with  a  care- 
ful but  impartial  concern  the  State  University. 

^3 


354  Education. 

As  a  christian  and  deacon  of  the  church  at  Colum- 
bia, and  for  a  time  as  president  of  the  executive  board  of 
the  General  Association,  he  has  been  judiciously  active 
and  efficient  in  his  work  for  the  great  Master  whom  he 
has  served  with  as  much  disinterestedness  as  is  common 
to  mortal  man.  He  delights  in  an  old  fashion  experi- 
mental religion,  and  delights  in  a  sermon  that  extols 
the  Savior  and  magnifies  the  grace  of  God.  The  sums 
of  money  that  he  has  given  to  church  enterprises  at 
home  and  abroad,  to  missions  and  to  education,  would 
now,  with  legitimately  accumulated  interest,  amount  to 
a  sum  much  larger  than  the  possessions  of  many  who 
are  reckoned  rich.  Nevertheless,  he  rejoices  and 
thanks  God  that  he  has  been  permitted,  by  his  own  ex- 
ertions and  management,  to  have  it  in  his  power  to  help 
man  and  honor  God  with  his  substance.  He  will  leave 
earth  for  heaven  with  a  clearer  conscience  and  a  better 
record  than  can  the  man  of  millions  mercenarily  made 
and  miserly  retained. 

He  was  born  in  Garrard  county,  Kentucky,  No- 
vember 1 7,  1815.  When  but  four  years  of  age  his 
father  moved  with  his  family  to  Boone  county,  Mis- 
souri. He  has  resided  in  that  county  practically  all  of 
his  life.  He  is  the  father  of  E.  W.  Stephens,  the  pres- 
ent moderator  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  General  Associa- 
tion, and  of  Mrs.  Anna  Smith,  wife  of  the  accomplished 
lawyer  and  legal  author,  Sydney  K.  Smith,  son  of  Hon.' 
D.  Howard  Smith,  an  eminent  citizen  of  Kentucky. 

There  are  other  Baptist  colleges  in  the  state  to 
which  the  General  Association  gives  its  moral  support, 
and  which  by  a  board  of  education  it  proposes  to  aid 
financially  as  far  as  possible.  Rev.  Dr.  E.  H.  Sawyer 
is  the  corresponding  secretary  of  this  board,  and  as 
far  as  possible  renders  efficient  aid  to  denominational 
education. 

Prominent  among  these  other  colleges  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 


Education.  355 

Lexington  Baptist  Female  College  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  reputable  institutions  in  tlie  state.  It 
has  done  a  great  work  for  the  denomination  and  for 
general  education;  its  alumnae  are  some  of  the  most 
accomplished  and  influential  women  in  the  state,  and  in 
other  states.  The  institution  has  had  some  of  the  emi- 
nent educators  as  presidents.  James  A.  Beauchamp, 
son  of  the  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  S.  A.  Beau- 
champ,  is  now  president. 

LaGrange  College,  at  LaGrange,  Missouri,  with 
J.  T.  Aluir,  LL.  D.,  president,  was  made  famous  under 
the  administration  of  Rev.  J.  F.  Cook,  LL.  D.,  who  de- 
voted thirty  years  of  the  prime  of  his  life  as  president 
of  that  institution.  From  it  have  gone  forth  many  of 
the  leading  men  of  this  and  other  states  in  the  ministry, 
in  the  learned  secular  professions,  and  to  the  bench  and 
college  presidencies.  Dr.  Cook  has  made  through  La- 
Grange College  an  historic  impress.  The  school  being 
coeducational,  has  contributed  largely  to  the  education 
of  ]\Iissouri's  daughters.  Dr.  Cook  is  now  president 
of  Webb  City  College,  where  he  is  likely  to  enlarge  his 
usefulness  and  magnify  his  reputation. 

Hardin  College  at  Mexico  was  founded  by  the  late 
Governor  Charles  H.  Hardin,  and  is  a  Baptist  institu- 
tion so  far  as  that  the  charter  requires  that  a  majority 
of  the  board  of  trustees  shall  be  members  in  good  stand- 
ing in  Baptist  churches,  and  that  Baptists  have  always 
been  at  the  head  of  the  institution  as  educators.  Gov. 
Hardin  wisely  provided  for  this  institution  an  endow- 
ment which  can  never  be  less,  but  must  continuously 
grow  larger  than  the  original  fund.  The  college  is  now 
ably  conducted  by  Jno.  W.  Million,  M.  A.,  president. 

The  college  at  Farmington  has  never  had  the  sym- 
pathy and  support  of  the  denomination  to  which  its  loca- 
tion and  the  demand  for  its  work  give  it  just  and  right- 
eous claim.  To  this  institution  the  General  Association, 
for  the  sake  of  the  cause  in  the  state  should  direct  its 


35^  Education. 

energies  and  extend  a  helping  hand.  The  southeast 
section  of  the  state  is  soon  to  have  a  commanding  posi- 
tion in  its  relation  to  other  parts,  and  its  educational 
interests  should  be  jealously  looked  after.  The  able 
educator  and  sterling  citizen,  Joseph  Jennings,  has  sac- 
rificed much  for  this  institution,  and  now  the  talented 
and  learned  young  brother,  John  Turnbaugh,  has  been 
laid  upon  the  altar — let  him  not  be  a  burnt  offering. 

The  college  at  Bolivar,  founded  by  the  lamented 
J.  R.  Maupin,  and  over  which  Dr.  W.  H.  Burnham  suc- 
cessfully presided  for  several  years,deserves  for  its  mer- 
its and  importance  of  location,  and  the  valuable  services 
of  President  Burks,  more  consideration  than  it  receives 
at  the  hands  of  the  denomination. 

Grand  River  College,  at  Gallatin,  Missouri,  has 
magnificent  property  and  an  advantageous  location,  but 
lacks  the  cordial  support  of  the  denomination. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  an  effort  to  materially 
foster  a  large  number  of  institutions  of  learning  by  a 
denomination  in  a  state,  tends  to  make  weaklings  of 
th^m  all.  If  this  be  so,  perhaps  it  would  be  a  good  plan 
to  mould  them  all  into  one  great  denominational  uni- 
versity, and  utilize  the  different  local  properties  as 
seminaries  of  training  for  the  central  university. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

woman's  work. 

The  Missouri  Baptist  Woman's  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, while  not  originally  connected  with  the  Missouri 
Baptist  General  Association,  is  historically  and  actively 
an  important  and  efficient  auxiliary.  So  prominent  in 
good  work  has  been  this  society  that  it  is  deemed  wor- 
thy a  separate  chapter  in  this  volume,  and  is  therefore, 
for.  this  reason,  omitted  in  the  chapter  on  Auxiliary 
Relations. 

If  Paul's  claim  that  "the  woman  is  the  glory  of  the 
man"  needed  confirmation,  the  spirit,  and  the  work  and 
the  achievements  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society  is  an  emphatic  confirmation. 

There  have  been,  and  perhaps  there  are  yet,  some 
men  who  are  skeptical  as  to  the  scriptural  propriety  of 
separate  woman's  organizations  for  christian  work. 
That  this  skepticism  is  a  matter  of  conscience  will  not 
be  questioned.  But  so  wonderful  is  man's  mental  and 
moral  constitution  that  there  may  be  as  much  con- 
science in  an  educational  bias  or  a  prejudice,  as  there 
is  in  a  well  sustained  logical  deduction.  That  there  are 
diflFerent  interpretations  of  scriptures  is  one  of  the 
enigmas  of  christian  history.  That  education,  precon- 
ceptions, traditions  and  the  prevalence  of  local  public 
sentiment  are  influential  in  shaping  such  interpreta- 
tions can  not  be  rationally  questioned.  There  are  many 
ardent  Sectarists,  who  can  give  no  other  reason  for 
their  sectarian  adhesion  and  zeal  than  that,  so  our  fath- 
ers thought. 

There  must  be  some  significance  in  the  fact  that 
woman  was  last  at  the  cross  and  the  first  at  the  tomb, 
and  that  the  discovery  of  a  vacant  sepulcher,  and  the 

35- 


35^  Woman's  Work. 

announcement  of  the  resurrection  was  through 
woman's  earnest  and  intelHgent  interest  in  the  person 
and  work  of  the  Redeemer.  Why  should  the  Holy 
Spirit  direct  the  evangelists  to  make  note  of  these  inter- 
esting facts  if  they  were  without  significance?  Is  any- 
thing given  by  inspiration  of  God  that  is  not  for  man's 
instruction  that  he  may  be  thoroughly  furnished  with 
every  good  work?  Why  was  woman  permitted  to 
bathe  the  feet  of  the  man  of  sorrows  with  her  tears,  and 
dry  them  with  the  hairs  of  her  head,  if  forever  after- 
ward she  was  to  hold  her  peace  in  matters  pertaining 
to  the  kingdom  of  her  loving  Lord  ? 

It  is  not  recorded  that  "certain  women,"  among 
them  Mary,  called  Magdalene,  Joana  and  Susanna,  and 
"many  others,"  were  organized  into  a  society  with  a 
president,  secretary,  treasurer  and  executive  board,  yet 
it  is  certain  that  they  were  a  company  of  women  in 
some  way  banded  together  to  minister  imto  Jesus  "of 
their  substance."  What  matters  the  method  of  their 
ministerings?  They  were  women  only.  Separate 
and  apart  from  men  they  ministered  unto  Jesus.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  men  did  the  same  thing.  But  the 
special  and  specific  mention  of  the  women  must  be 
accepted  as  having  special  significance,  else  this  special 
record  would  not  have  been  made  for  the  instruction  of 
the  ages.,  It  would  have  been  sufficient  to  have  writ- 
ten :  Jesus  was  administered  unto  by  men  and  women 
"of  their  substance." 

The  ol:»jection  to  woman's  societies  for  minister- 
ing unto  Jesus  is  akin  to  that  relict  of  the  mediaevalism 
that  held  to  woman's  inferiority  to  man;  and  the  ob- 
jection to  the  presence  of  men  at  their  separate  meet- 
ings is  a  continuance  of  that  barbaric  sentiment  that, 
until  recently  forbade  men  and  women  sitting  in  the 
same  pew  in  the  house  of  the  Lord,  and  that  walled  men 
and  women  apart  by  high  board  partitions.  But  co- 
existent with,  and  contradictory  of  this  sentiment  was 


Woman's  Work.  359 

the  custom  of  the  same  men  and  women  dancing  to- 
gether at  social  festivities. 

It  is  urged  as  an  objection  to  Woman's  Missionary 
Societies  that  Paul  wrote:  "Let  your  women  keep  si- 
lence in  the  churches,  for  it  is  not  permitted  unto  them 
to  speak ;  but  render  obedience,  as  also  saith  the  law ; 
and  if  they  will  learn  anything,  let  them  ask  their  hus- 
bands at  home,  for  it  is  a  shame  (ugly,  unbecoming) 
for  a  woman  to  speak  in  the  church."     This  was  most 
likely  written  for  all  churches,  in  all  times  and  at  all 
places.     Let  it  be  so;  nevertheless,  it  is  no  argument 
against  woman's  societies  for  ministering  to  the  cause 
of  Christ.     Nature  as  well  as  revelation  teaches  us  that 
woman's  lovableness  is  the  purifying  and  conservating 
force  in  human  society.     That  she  has  less  mental  ca- 
pability than  man,  no  well  informed  man  will  contend. 
But  while  she  is  man's  intellectual  equal,  her  order  of 
mental  capability,  suited  to  her  superior  place  in  the  so- 
cial world,  and  her  relations  to  social  order  and  prog- 
ress demand  that  she  should  have  the  tenderest  affec- 
tion and  utmost  confidence  of  the  husband — and  un- 
doubtedly Paul's  words  were  spoken  with  special  ref- 
erence to  married  women.     There  are  likely  to  be  dif- 
ferences of  opinions  among  church  members.  Indeed 
the  history  of  churches  reduces  such  likelihood  to  facts 
— not  always  complimentary  to  professed  possession  of 
the  spirit  of  the  christ.     No  husband  takes  pleasure  in 
his  wife's  antagonism  of  his  views,  especially  in  public. 
And  woman,  with  all  of  her  excellency  is  but  human, 
and  once  committing  herself  in  public  to  an  opinion  or 
policy,    is   likely   not    only    to    seek    to   maintain    her 
ground,  but  if  antagonized,  she  is  quite  as  apt  to  be- 
come animated  as  is  a  man.     Sharp  controversies  be- 
tween those  who  are  closely  allied  are  not  promotive 
of  habitual  amiability.     Conjugal  amity  with  mutual 
sympathy  is  essential  to  the  beauty  and  moral  force  of 
the  home.     Paul,  though  supposedly  a  bachelor,  was 


360  Woman's  Work. 

set  for  the  promotion  of  all  that  is  good  and  lovely  and 
of  good  report  among  men,  and  he  knew  that  all  de- 
pended upon  the  character  of  the  homes. 

The  Divine  idea  of  woman's  subjection  to  man  is 
not  humiliating  to  the  woman,  it  is  in  philosophy  and  in 
fact  the  basis  and  the  force  of  her  exaltation.  Her  in- 
fluence is  augmented  just  in  proportion  to  her  non-self- 
assertiveness,  provided  her  other  womanly  qualities 
are  in  harmony  with  the  laws  designed  to  govern  the  re- 
lation of  the  sexes.  Christ's  subordination  to  the  law 
of  His  relation  to  the  moral  government  of  the  world 
and  to  the  economy  of  redemption  was  the  ground  of 
His  exaltation.  Though  Christ  was  a  man,  nothing  so 
beautifully  and  so  forcibly  displays  the  femininity  of  the 
divine  sentiment  as  the  life  and  work  and  death  of  the 
Son  of  God.  The  world  looks  to  woman  for  the  high- 
est exhibitions  of  the  Christ  mind.  That  mind  can  not 
be  exemplified  without  manifest  submissiveness.  There 
is  more  dignity  and  authority  in  recognition  of  the  laws 
of  relativity  than  there  are  in  insubordinate  self-asser- 
tion. The  woman  is  the  glory  of  the  man  because  of 
the  conservative  force  of  amiable  subordination  to 
rightful  authority. 

Mrs.  W.  F.  Elliott,  president  of  the  Missouri  Bap- 
tist Woman's  Mission  Society,  very  pertinently  and 
forcibly  argues :  "But  another  objection  (to  woman's 
missionary  societies)  is  based  upon  the  plea  that  the 
Apostles  taught  the  subjection  of  woman.  The  infer- 
ence seems  to  be  that  this  teaching  implies  woman's 
incapability  to  properly  conduct  any  religious  work 
not  luider  the  special  supervision  and  direction  of  the 
brotherhood.  But  if  the  women  are  incapable  of  doing 
this  work  without  their  help,  since  we  have  seen  that  it 
is  a  benefit  to  engage  it,  and  without  it  there  would  be  a 
vast  amount  of  unemployed  talent  in  the  churches,  does 
this  not  furnish  the  very  strongest  appeal  to  the  breth- 
ren to  aid  the  work  in  every  possible  way?" 


WoDian's  Work.  361 

The  argument  of  Mrs.  Elliott  is  not  only  legiti- 
mate, but  she  might  have  carried  it  still  further.  If 
women  are  capable  of  doing  a  good  work  for  Christ,  and 
if  they  are  to  keep  silence  in  the  churches,  is  it  not  nec- 
essary that  they  have  woman's  organizations  by  means 
of  which  they  may  accomplish  the  greatest  possible 
good  ?  Unless  it  can  be  shown  that  woman  is  to  be  no 
more  than  a  silent  hearer  and  not  a  doer  of  the  word, 
the  foregoing  conclusions,  it  seems,  must  be  accepted 
as  legitimate  and  incontrovertable. 

That  women  are  capable  through  organization  of 
accomplishing  a  vast  good  in  promoting  the  progress 
oi  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom,  the  history  of  the  Society 
now  in  question  clearly  demonstrates. 

In  1869,  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  a  society  was  or- 
ganized at  Liberty,  Missouri,  as  a  local  institution  aux- 
iliary to  the  Foreign  Mission  Board  of  the  Southern 
baptist  Convention.  Rev.  R.  S.  Duncan,  then  the  effi- 
cient district  secretary  for  Missouri,  of  the  Foreign 
Board  of  the  Convention,  was  an  active  and  influential 
adviser,  and  perhaps  the  author  of  the  original  sugges- 
tion for  the  organization  of  Woman's  Foreign  Mission 
Auxiliary-  Societies,  in  Missouri.  Of  this  original  aux- 
iliary society,  Mrs.  O.  P.  Moss  was  the  president. 
Through  her  intelligent  effort  and  well  directed  zeal  the 
Baptist  women  of  the  state  soon  became  interested  in 
this  work. 

In  1 876,  when  the  General  Association  was  in  ses- 
sion in  Hannibal,  a  few  Baptist  women  held  a  quiet  and 
informal  conference  looking  to  a  general  organization 
and  to  more  active  and  more  systematic  effort  in  the 
interests  of  foreign  missions.  This  conference  re- 
sulted in  the  formation  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Wo- 
man's Foreign  Mission  Society.  Mrs.  O.  P.  Moss  was 
made  president  and  treasurer  of  this  society.  Miss 
Maggie  Emerson  was  chosen  secretary ;  Mrs.  R.  B. 
Semple,  Mrs.  R.  S.  Adkins,  Mrs.  Flora  Thompson  and 


3^2  Woman's  Work. 

Miss  Sallie  Stone  were  made  directors.  Eighteen  vice- 
presidents,  selected  from  different  parts  of  the  state 
were  chosen. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  state  organization 
was  held  at  Lexington  in  October,  i877.  At  that  time 
as  many  as  thirty  local  and  auxiliary  societies  had  been 
formed. 

The  committee  of  the  General  Association  on  for- 
eign missions,  in  its  report  to  the  Association,  made  en- 
couraging mention  of  the  Woman's  Society,  in  these 
words,  to  wit :  "With  profound  thankfulness  do  we 
record  a  general  increase  of  interest  in  a  large  number  | 

of  churches  in  the  state,  as  shown  by  contributions  in  ' 

the  past  year,  aggregating  twice  as  much  as  in  any 
year  since  i87o.  There  has  also  been  a  grand  rally  of 
the  sisterhood  to  this  work.  The  Missouri  Baptist 
Woman's  Foreign  Mission  Society  was  inaugurated 
during  the  last  session  of  this  body  at  Hannibal.  In 
this,  the  first  year  of  its  existence,  36  societies  have 
been  organized  in  various  churches ;  20  life  member- 
ships have  been  secured  and  over  $500  collected,  with 
several  societies  to  hear  from." 

In  the  first  annual  report  of  the  Society  to  the  Gen- 
eral Association,  the  objects  of  the  Society  are  set  forth 
in  a  lucid  statement :  "The  object  of  this  Society  is  to 
enlist  the  active  sympathy  and  cooperation  of  the  en- 
tire sisterhood  of  the  state  in  the  work  of  foreign  mis- 
sions. To  accomplish  this  we  have  adopted  a  system 
of  life  membership,  and  local  or  auxiliary  Woman's 
Missionary  Societies  in  the  churches.  Twenty  dollars 
contributed  at  one  time  or  in  annual  installments  of  five 
dollars  each,  constitutes  the  contributor  a  life  member. 
The  leading  feature  in  the  local  societies  is  the  collection 
of  an  average  of  one  cent  a  week  from  the  entire  mem- 
bership of  the  churches." 

From  the  date  of  this  first  annual  meeting,  down  to 
the  meeting  for  1893,  free  use  is  here  made  of  an  his- 


Woniaii's  Work.  363 

torical  sketch  of  the  Society  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  G. 
\V.  Hyde,  an  earnest  christian  worker,  the  accom- 
plished wife  of  Rev.  Dr.  G.  W.  Hyde: 

"In  1881  ahout  sixty  Societies  had  been  formed 
and  the  annual  contribution  to  Foreign  ]\Iissions  was 
$1,125.  I"  the  autumn  of  1883  Miss  Emma  Young  of 
our  state  was  appointed  missionary  to  China,  and  her 
efficiency  in  that  field  greatly  encouraged  the  friends  of 
Foreign  Missions. 

During  the  session  of  the  Society  held  at  Trenton, 
Miss  Young  was  adopted  by  the  Baptist  women  of  Mis- 
souri as  their  missionary,  and.  during  her  residence  in 
China,  made  yearly  reports  to  the  body. 

A  school  building  was,  by  the  approval  of  the 
Foreign  Mission  Board,  soon  built  in  Canton,  with  the 
funds  raised  by  Missouri  women. 

During  the  period  from  1 876- 1886,  Mrs.  Moss 
occupied  the  position  of  president,  giving  continuous 
attention  to  the  cause  she  loved.  Noble  workers  aided 
her  in  the  general  conduct  of  the  work;  among  them 
our  loved  ]\Irs.  Hardin,  Mrs.  Baird  and  others ;  but  the 
burden  rested  chiefly  upon  Mrs.  Moss.  Her  health  be- 
came greatly  impaired,  but  "she  faltered  not."  To  her 
efforts,  more  than  to  any  other  one  person's,  was  due 
the  existence  of  the  Missouri  Baptist  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

The  general  interest  in  missions  w-as  extending 
as  never  before  and,  in  addition  to  the  calls  from  for- 
eign lands,  there  came  cries  for  the  tidings  of  Salvation 
from  the  waste  places  of  our  own  dear  land.  The  sym- 
pathy and  interest  of  many  of  our  w'omen  were  enlisted 
in  Home  Missions  as  in  no  other  department  of  chris- 
tian work.  To  know  how  best  to  meet  this  demand — 
how  the  greatest  possible  help  might  be  given  to  this 
important  work,  was  the  imperative  question. 

The  lines  which  marked  the  boundaries  of  mis- 
sion work  seemed  dim.     Interest  in  Foreign  Missions 


3^4  Woman's  Work. 

was  not  less;  on  the  contrary,  extended  information 
and  consequent  zeal  had  come  by  reflex  influence,  like 
the  light  from  an  illuminated  surface,  and  the  sisters 
felt  the  Divine  Hand  pointing  to  our  enlarged  field  of 
usefulness. 

An  important  transition  seemed  upon  the  Society 
and  the  command,   'Follow  on !'   seemed  very  plain. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  General  Association  at  Car- 
thage, October,  1885,  the  adopted  report  of  the  com- 
mittee on  'Domestic  Missions'  contained  these  words : 
We  recommend  that  our  churches  give  our  'Do- 
mestic Missions'  claim  a  place  in  their  stated  collec- 
tions, and  we  suggest  to  our  Woman's  Societies  the 
propriety  of  adding  to  their  present  liberal  contribu- 
tions a  reasonable  sum  for  this  neglected  object. 

To  carry  out  the  spirit  of  this  suggestion  the  fol- 
lowing resolution  was  adopted: 

That  a  committee  consisting  of  Mrs.  W.  F.  Elli- 
ott, Mrs.  S.  H.  Ford,  Mrs.  John  Farrington,  Mrs.  G.  W. 
Hyde  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Hardin  be  hereby  appointed  to 
correspond  with  .the  Baptist  sisters  of  the  state,  urging 
the  organization  of  Woman's  Societies  where  none  ex- 
ist, and,  without  disturbing  the  Societies  already  organ- 
ized, urging  them  to  consider  favorably  the  enlargement 
of  the  field  of  their  benevolence. 

The  following  spring  this  committee  met  at  Mex- 
ico, and  organized  by  electing  Mrs.  Elliott  chairman. 

The  committee  was  greatly  encouraged  and  aided 
by  Rev.  R.  S.  Duncan,  agent  for  Foreign  Missions. 

As  the  result  of  this  conference,  a  circular  letter 
and  leaflets  were  sent  out,  setting  forth  the  work  to  be 
done  and  what,  in  the  judgment  of  the  committee, 
seemed  the  best  method  of  accomplishing  it.  A  great 
many  of  these  were  distributed  in  various  parts  of  the 
state,  accompanied  by  a  personal  appeal  for  active  co- 
operation.    In  the  next  October,  report  of  this  work 


Woman's  Work.  365 

was   made   to   the  General    Association    in    session  at 
Moberly. 

This  effort  was  followed  by  increased  interest  in 
missions,  and  the  sisters  seemed  'fully  prepared  to  es- 
pouse any  good  plan  for  the  enlargement  and  unifica- 
tion of  our  missionary  work.' 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society,  held  at 
Moberly,  October,  1886,  the  treasurer  reported  $2,- 
287.99  during  the  year,  an  excess  of  any  previous  year 
in  the  history  of  the  Society. 

At  this  meeting  the  talks  of  Miss  Miller,  lately 
returned  missionary  from  India,  were  of  great  in- 
terest to  all.  The  efficient  treasurer,  Mrs.  Chas.  H. 
Hardin,  asked  to  be  released  from  the  duties  of  her  of- 
fice, as  her  impaired  health  would  not  longer  admit  of 
her  attention  to  the  work.  The  board  of  directors  rec- 
ommended that  the  location  of  the  board  be  moved  from 
Mexico  to  a  place  more  convenient  for  a  majority  of  its 
members. 

The  annual  election  of  officers  resulted  in  the 
election  of  Mrs.  W.  F.  Elliott,  president;  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Burnham,  corresponding  secretary;  Mrs.  J.  B.  Wor- 
nall,  treasurer,  and  fifteen  ladies  residing  in  different 
parts  of  the  state  as  vice-presidents. 

Fitting  words  were  spoken  in  appreciation  of  the 
valuable  services  rendered  by  the  retiring  officers,  and 
a  vote  of  thanks  for  their  unselfish  constancy  in  dis- 
charging their  onerous  duties.  After  much  delay  and 
a  prayerful  consideration,  Mrs.Elliott  consented  to  ac- 
cept the  responsible  position  solely  because  she  thought 
the  Lord's  leading  must  be  in  it  all. 

At  a  subsequent  called  meeting,  it  was  decided  to 
locate  the  board  at  Kansas  City,  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  James 
was  requested  to  act  as  recording  secretary. 

At  the  first  succeeding  Quarterly  Meeting,  Mrs. 
James  asked  to  be  excused  from  this  office,  and  the  very 
efficient  recording  secretary,  Airs.  V.  D.  Philips,  was 


366  JVoinan's  Work. 

appointed  to  the  place  in  a  manner  most  plainly  indi- 
cating the  will  of  God. 

It  will  thus  1)e  seen  that  the  lines  of  work  had 
reached  out  into  broader  fields;  but  God  had  always 
been  a  'very  present  help.'  Opportunities  and  privi- 
leges, cares  and  blessings  have  been  the  heritage  and 
the  fruitage.  To  adapt  the  plans  of  operations  to  the 
wider  conception  of  responsibility  was  the  work  now 
before  the  board  of  managers. 

The  adoption  of  the  claims  of  Home  Missions, 
State  and  District  Missions,  and  Ministerial  Education, 
added  to  Foreign  Missions,  demanded  an  increase  of 
qualified  organizers.  Also  it  was  urged,  that  the  cor- 
responding secretary  go  into  the  field  to  help  to  nurture 
this  great  work.  All  of  this  increased  activity  called 
for  careful  adjustment  that  the  work  be  properly  de- 
veloped. 

A  constitution  was  prepared  in  harmony  with  the 
advanced  work  and  distributed  to  local  Societies ;  also 
other  helps  by  which  greater  system  could  be  secured. 
From  this  time,  the  broadened  scope  of  plans  could 
better  be  indicated  by  dropping  the  word  'Foreign;' 
hence  the  present  name. 

In  localities  where  it  might  be  thought  impossi- 
ble to  sustain  Societies  it  was  urged  that  committees  of 
sisters  be  appointed  by  the  churches  to  collect  funds  and 
make  regular  quarterly  reports  to  their  churches  and  to 
the  state  treasurer. 

It  should  be  noticed  that  article  5  of  the  Constitu- 
tion for  local  Societies  provides  that  the  Societies  shall 
always  report  their  collections  to  their  respective 
churches,  thereby  remembering  their  close  relation.  It 
was  contemplated  that  this  should,  in  no  case,  be  neg- 
lected. 

The  broadening  of  the  line  of  operations  furnishes 
abundant  facilities  for  all  departments  of  work.  By 
the  present  arrangement,  any  mission  society  or  individ- 


JVoinan's  IVork.  367 

ual  may  send  contributions  to  any  object  fostered  by  the 
general  organization : — to  Foreign  or  Home  field : — 
North  or  South,  East  or  West.  Hence,  there  is  no 
need  for  any  other  channel  for  our  funds  than  is  pro- 
vided by  our  Missouri  Baptist  Woman's  Missionary 
Society.  The  Constitution  is  broad  enough  for  anv 
case. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that,  at  the  end  of 
the  first  year  after  the  extension  of  lines  of  work  the  re- 
port of  the  treasurer,  at  Maryville,  October,  i887, 
showed  a  contribution  to  Foreign  Missions  alone  of 
$3'Oi5-55.  and  the  whole  amount  was  $4,579.53.  The 
year  before,  the  treasurer's  report  showed  (the  whole 
amount  being  for  Foreign  Missions)  $2,287.99. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  managers,  held  in 
Maryville,  October,  i887,  the  treasurer,  Mrs.  J.  B. 
VVornall,  offered  her  resignation — stating  that  other 
duties  made  it  impossible  to  keep  the  position  longer. 
With  much  regret  the  resignation  was  accepted.  After 
some  delay  the  present  very  efficient  treasurer,  Mrs.  G. 
B.  Wheeler,  was  unanimously  elected,  and  the  wisdom 
of  the  election  has  been  proven  during  all  the  interven- 
ing years. 

October,  1888.  the  annual  meeting  was  held  at 
Clinton.  Hindrances  arising  from  the  holding  of  meet- 
ings at  the  same  time  and  place  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion, gave  occasion  for  seriously  considering  the  advis- 
ability of  holding  them  at  a  time  and  place  apart  from 
that  of  the  General  Association.  A  change  of  time  and 
place  was  voted  at  this  meeting. 

A  cordial  invitation  from  the  Fayette  church  was 
accepted  and  the  thirtieth  annual  meeting  was  held 
April  18-19,  1889,  at  that  place. 

The  Si^intuality  of  this  meeting,from  first  to  last, 
will  ever  be  a  green  spot  in  the  memory  of  all  who  were 
present. 


36S  Woman's  Work. 

The  annual  gathering-  at  Lexington,  in  April, 
1890,  is  fresh  in  the  minds  of  many.  The  address  of 
the  president,  Mrs.ElHott,  was  the  special  feature  of 
this  meeting.  That  paper  is  a  clear  defense  of  'woman's 
place'  in  missions, — an  earnest  approval  of  the  organ- 
izations and  not  an  apology  for  their  existence. 

Treasurer  reported  a  grand  total  for  the  year  of 
$6,915.44. 

The  second  visit  of  Annie  Luther  Bagby  to  her 
native  land  included  the  time  of  this  meeting.  Her 
sweet  talk  about  the  work  and  the  reunion  of  friends 
she  had  known  in  school  days  at  the  Baptist  Female  Col- 
lege, were  very  precious  to  all.  The  letter  from  Miss 
McMinn,  who  was  also  a  former  pupil  in  Baptist  Fe- 
male College,  was  heard  with  great  pleasure.  It  was 
read  by  the  corresponding  secretary. 

The  annual  meeting  held  at  Mexico,  April  22-24, 
1 89 1, was  well  attended,  and  reports  showed  an  advance 
all  along  the  line,  except  that  of  the  treasurer ;  $4  - 
332.28  being  less  than  the  amount  reported  the  previ- 
ous year.  This  was  explained  by  the  fact  that  state 
agents  had  failed  to  report  to  Mrs.  Wheeler  much  of 
the  money  which  the  Societies  had  through  want  of  in- 
formation about  our  methods  sent  direct  to  them. 

In  this  connection  mention  is  gladly  made  of  the 
intelligent  and  helpful  interest  shown  by  the  students 
at  Hardin  College.  This  is  a  matter  of  high  compli- 
ment to  that  noble  institution.  Their  contributions  to 
the  different  objects  of  the  Society  during  the  past  few 
years  have  amounted  to  a  large  sum. 

The  year  ending  April,  1892,  was  reported  by  the 
corresponding  secretary  to  have  been  one  of  'good, 
solid  work.'  Surely  this  faithful,  tireless  one  had  ac- 
complished much  of  this  work !  This  report  was 
adopted  with  thanks  and  a  standing  vote.  The  sisters 
and  citizens  of  Gallatin  vied  with  each  other  in  their 
hospitalities  for  the  'strangers  within  their  gates.' 


Woman's  Work.  369 

In  1S92  the  treasurer's  report  showed  $5,401.95 
raised  during  the  year. 

The  pastor,  Rev.  M.  P.  Hunt,  was  untiring  in  his 
efforts  to  make  the  meetings  a  real  pleasure.  In  every 
possible  way  he  added  to  its  success,  and,  when  the 
parting  hand  was  given,  the  pastor's  blessing  lingered 
as  a  kindly  souvenir  of  a  precious  meeting — the  annual 
session  of  1892. 

The  treasurer's  report  ought  to  call  forth  a  song 
of  praise !  That  the  books  show  collections  to  have 
been  more  than  $6,800,  or,  $2,000  more  than  the  last 
year — even  in  the  midst  of  financial  anxiety.  This  in- 
creased amount  is  due  to  extra  effort  during  this  cen- 
tennial year. 

This  year  was  one  of  varied  light  and  shade — 
successes  and  anxieties  in  the  work. 

The  regular  board  meetings  have  been  a  means 
of  holding  the  conditions  well  before  the  membership. 
Eleven  new  societies  reported  in  the  first  quarter.  Mis- 
sion Rooms  sending  out  much  literature,  but  little 
money  coming  in.  The  Interchange  not  paying  ex- 
penses, and  treasurer's  books  showing  short  receipts. 
But  the  second  and  third  quarters  show  all  these  inter- 
ests in  a  more  hopeful  state.  During  the  last  quarter, 
the  president  reported  that  the  work  has  'assumed 
greater  permanency  than  ever  before;'  the  treasury  in 
an  encouraging  condition  and  The  Interchange  with  a 
balance  in  bank.  Faithful  and  patient  efforts  are  thus 
rewarded  and  the  reinforcement  of  new  workers  brings 
fresh  zeal. 

Interesting  sketches  of  Mrs.  Downing  have  been 
read  by  Miss  Ella  Coleman,  and  of  Mrs.  Sears,  by  Mrs. 
Shaeffer. 

The  presence  of  Miss  Ida  Hayes,  who  has  lately 
been  appointed  teacher  and  missionary  in  Madero  In- 
stitute Saliillo,  Mexico,  gives  additional  interest  and  re- 
24 


37°  Woman's  Work. 

ality  to  the  objects  of  our  organization.  Miss  Hayes 
was  cordially  greeted  as  she  was  introduced  and  spoke 
of  her  convictions  and  desires  in  regard  to  mission 
work,  and  the  parting  hand  was  given  as  a  pledge  of 
affection  and  support. 

The  Woman's  Society  has  established  a  monthly 
journal  called  The  Interchange,  published  at  Moberly, 
Missouri,  by  the  board  of  the  Society.  This  is  an 
eight  page  paper,  modestly  conducted  with  decided 
ability  and  a  careful  study  of  adaptation  to  the  work 
of  the  Society.  The  enterprise  and  unpretentious  zeal 
of  the  Woman's  Mission  Society  can  not  fail  to  com- 
mend the  work  and  the  workers  to  the  approval  of 
christian  people. 

For  the  session  of  the  Society  for  1898,  the  diligent 
and  efficient  corresponding  secretary,  Mrs.  John  L. 
Burnham,  of  Kansas  City,  in  her  annual  report,  says : 
"As  we  look  back  over  past  years,  to  the  beginning  of 
our  work,  it  is  indeed  as  a  'handful  of  corn  upon  the  top 
of  a  mountain,  and  the  point  thereof  shall  shake  like 
Lebanon.' 

"As  little  streams  trickling  from  the  hill-side  flow 
on  their  way,  gathering  force  and  strength,  at  last  reach 
the  great  ocean  and  are  carried  away  touching  the 
shores  of  all  nations.  *  *  * 

"This  same  little  stream,  so  small  in  its  beginning, 
has  widened  and  flowed  on  until  the  nations  have  been 
touched  and  hundreds  have  gone  home  to  'sing  the  song 
of  Moses  and  the  Lamb,'  and  to-day  hundreds  still  live 
to  tell  the  story  of  redeeming  love  to  their  friends  and 
kindred  about  them.  Would  my  sisters  like  to  know 
something  of  the  amount  of  money  which  has  been 
given,  as  we  have  gathered  it  up  year  after  year,  a  little 
here,  and  sometimes  a  handful  there,  as  Ruth  gleaned 
the  fields  of  Boaz?     God  is  not  slack  concerning  His 


Woman's  Work.  371 

promises.     As  we  have  wrought  in  His  name  he  has 
abundantly  given  the  increase.     We  have  given : 

For  District  Missions $  i,768  57 

For  State  Missions 3,730  02 

For  Home  Missions - 1^,342  i7 

For  Foreign   Missions 34.082  65 

For  Ministerial  Education •  •  •  •     5,052  40 

For  Other  Objects 12,664  35 

Total $74,640  16 

A  remarkable  and  highly  commendable  feature  of 
the  Woman's  Mission  Society  is  its  inexpensiveness. 
To  this  added  the  patient  fidelity  of  the  management, 
and  the  results  that  have  attended  the  work  make  the 
organization  not  only  unique  but  beautiful. 

Rev.  Dr.  B.  G.  Tutt,  in  writing  of  the  Society, 
says: 

"I  have  on  various  occasions  declared  publicly  that, 
in  my  judgment,  nothing  since  the  days  of  Carey  and 
Judson  has  given  such  impetus  to  mission  work  as  the 
organization  of  the  Women's  societies  in  our  churches. 
I  do  most  certainly  advise  an  increased  and  more  gen- 
eral interest  in  missions  among  our  women  (and  men 
too). 

"The  thing  that  impresses  me  most  about  the 
woman's  work  in  Missouri  is  its  inexpensiveness.  I 
know  of  no  organization  that  conducts  its  business  with 
such  economy  and  self-denial." 

And,  again.  Brother  W.  L.  Boyer  says:  "It  seems 
to  me,  God's  seal  of  approbation  has  been  indelibly 
stamped  upon  the  efforts  of  the  Baptist  women  of  Mis- 
souri and  His  blessings  have  crowned  their  efforts." 
*  *  *  "I  would,  if  possible,  have  a  Woman's  Missionary 
Society  in  every  church  and  persuade  as  many  as  pos- 
sible to  become  efficient  members  of  same." 

In  addition  to  the  presidencies  of  Mrs.  Moss  and 
Mrs.  Elliott,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Maple  has  served  as  acting 
president,  presiding  with  grace  and  dignity  at  the  meet- 


372  Woman's  Work. 

ing  in  St.  Louis  in  1881.  Her  address  in  response  to 
the  address  of  welcome  by  Mrs.  W.  B.  Harris,  of  the 
Third  Baptist  church,  was  a  model  of  elegance  of  dic- 
tion and  grace  of  delivery,  clothing  the  principle,  the 
spirit  and  methods  of  missionary  work  in  attractive 
and  impressive  drapery  that  gave  force  to  the  grandeur 
of  the  gospel  enterprise. 

Mrs.  Moss,  with  restless  energy  and  unabating  en- 
thusiasm, won  for  herself  a  name  not  only  with  her  sis- 
ters, but  with  all  the  active  workers  in  the  General  As- 
sociation. 

Mrs.  Elliott  was  designed  by  nature's  appoint- 
ments for  a  leader  and  a  presiding  officer.  Her  gentle 
and  unassuming  bearing,  her  comprehensive  intelli- 
gence, her  judiciously  discriminating  mind  and  quick 
perception  of  the  bearing  of  all  incidental  procedures 
upon  main  questions,  with  disinterested  devotion  to  the 
work  of  the  Society,  have  endeared  her  to  the  hearts  of 
all  the  workers. 

It  is  due,  in  concluding  this  chapter,  to  record  the 
names  of  the  first  list  of  vice-presidents :  Miss  Ella  D. 
Pitts,  Mrs.  E.  G.  Garnett,  Mrs.  John  Doniphan,  Mrs. 
John  T,  Williams,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Smith,  Mrs.  Fannie 
Arnold,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Hardin,  Mrs.  Henry  Talbird,  Mrs. 
Mary  Wetzell,  Mrs.  J.  D.  Biggs,  Mrs.  J.  B.  Wornall, 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Goldsberry,  Mrs.  T.  J.  Musgrove,  Mrs.  J. 
Farmer,  Mrs.  W.  F.  Elliott,  Mrs.  S.  M.  Taylor,  Miss 
Bettie  Settle,  Mrs.  John  Cantwell,  Mrs.  E.  D.  Isbell. 

The  present  (1898)  officers  of  the  Missouri  Bap- 
tist Woman's  Missionary  Society  are :  Mrs.  W.  F.  El- 
liott, president;  Mrs.  J.  L.  Burnham,  corresponding 
secretary;  Mrs.  V.  D.  Phillips,  recording  secretary; 
Mrs.  G.  B.  Wheeler,  treasurer.  Miss  Flora  Bell, 
daughter  of  Rev.  W.  M.  Bell,  of  Miama,  is  earnestly 
and  intelligently  interested  in  the  proper  training  of 


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EDWIN    W.    STEPHENS, 
Present  Moderator  since  October,  1S97. 


Woman's  Work,  373 

boys  and  girls.  In  her  last  annual  report  she  says : 
"The  child's  need  is  the  supreme  need."  *  *  *  "Give 
these  boys  and  girls  a  chance  and  see  if  the  number  of 
paupers  will  not  be  greatly  reduced." 

A  careful  and  unprejudiced  following  of  the  his- 
tory of  this  Society  can  not  fail  to  suitably  impress  the 
mind  with  the  varied  usefulness  of  the  Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society.  No  good  work  in  anywise  related  to 
evangelical  enterprise  fails  of  the  sympathy  and  co- 
operation of  that  organization. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

A  CONVENIENT  SUMMARY. 

This  chapter  is  compiled  and  inserted,  hoping  that 
it  may  serve  as  a  convenient  reference  digest  for  such 
persons  as  may  wish  to  promptly  inform  themselves 
touching  any  item  of  detail  in  the  work,  or  concerning 
the  persons  prominently  connected  in  the  past  with  the 
General  Association  of  Missouri  Baptists.  Perhaps, 
in  the  remote  future  the  chapter  may  be  of  more  inter- 
est and  value  than  at  the  present,  yet  of  probable  inter- 
est to  many  from  the  present  time  on : 

Section  I. 

MODER.\TORS,  TIME  OF  SERVICE,  AND  BIRTH  AND 
DEATH  DATES. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Vardeman:  Years  of  service, 
1834-1835.  Whole  time  two  years.  Born  in  Wythe 
county,  Virginia,  July  8,  i775;  died  in  Ralls  county, 
Missouri,  May  28,  1842. 

Rev.  J.  B.  Longan:  Years  of  service,  1836- 1839. 
Whole  time  of  service  four  years.  Born  in  Henrico 
county,  Virginia,  i775.     Date  of  death  unknown. 

Rev.  James  Suggett:  Year  of  service,  1840.  Whole 
term  one  year.  Born  in  Orange  county,  Virginia,  May, 
1775;  died  in  Callaway  couAy,  Missouri,  1851. 

Hon.  Urial  Sebree:  Years  of  service,  1841-1843; 
1846-1848.  Whole  terms  of  service  six  years.  Born 
in  Orange  county, Virginia,  July  15,  i774;  died  in  How- 
ard county,  Missouri,  May  18,  1853. 

Roland  Hughes:  Years  of  service,  1844-1845; 
1850-1854.  Whole  time  of  service  seven  years.  Born 
in  Kentucky,  1790;  died  in  Howard  county,  Missouri, 

1855. 


A  Convenient  Summary.  375 

Hon.Wm.  Carson:  Years  of  service  1849  ^"<^  1855. 
Whole  time  two  years.  Born  near  Winchester ,Virginia, 
May  14,  1798;  died  at  Pahnyra,  Missouri,  November 
Z,  i'873. 

Hon.  David  H.  Hickman:  Years  of  service,  1856 
and  1868.  Whole  time  two  years.  Born  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky,  November  21,  1821 ;  died  June  25, 
1869. 

Judge  R.  E.  McDaniel:  Years  of  service,  1857  and 
1 859- 1 862.     Whole  time  of  service  five  years. 

Rev.  Wm.  Crozvell,  D.  D.:  Year  of  service  1859. 
Time  of  service  one  year.  No  information  at  hand  of 
the  date  of  his  birth  or  death.  The  author  thinks  he 
was  born  in  New  York  State.  Dr.  J.  C.  Maple,  in  semi- 
centennial memorial,  says  of  Dr.  Crowell :  "Missouri 
never  had  living  in  her  borders  a  man  of  more  thorough 
culture  and  of  wider  scholarship.  That  he  was  withal 
a  man  of  piety  as  well  as  firmness,  there  can  be  no 
doubt." 

Rev.  A.  P.  Williams,  D.  D.:  Years  of  service  1863 
and  1865-1867.  Whole  number  of  years  of  service 
four.  There  was  no  meeting  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion in  1864.  Dr.  Williams  was  born  in  St.  Louis 
county,  Missouri,  March  13,  1813;  died  at  Glasgow, 
Howard  county,  Missouri,  November  9,  1868. 

Rev.  Noah  Flood:  Years  of  service,  1869-1870 
Whole  time  two  years  Born  in  Shelby  county,  Ken- 
tucky, June  14,  1809;  di^*^  ^t  Columbia,  Missouri, 
August  II,  1873. 

Rev.  X.  X.  Bnckner:  Year  of  service,  i87i.  Whole 
time  one  year.  Born  in  Spencer  county,  Kentucky, 
February  20,  1828;  died  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri, 
January  19,  i872. 

Hon.  John  B.  Wornall:  Years  of  service,  i872- 
1873.  Whole  time  two  years.  Born  in  Clarke  county, 
Kentucky,  October  12,  1822;  died  at  his  home  in  Jack- 
son county,  Missouri,  March  24,  1892. 


37^  A  Convenient  Summary. 

Deacon  Leivis  B.  Ely:  Years  of  service,  i874-i876. 
Whole  service  three  years.  Born  at  Frankfort,  Ken- 
tucky, May  i8,  1825;  died  at  St.  Joseph,  June  18,  189?. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman,  S.  T.  D.:  Years  of  service,  i877- 
1896.  Whole  time  of  service  twenty  years.  Born  in 
Hardin  county,  Kentucky. 

Deacon  E.  W.  Stephens:  Years  of  service,  1897- 
1898.     Present  moderator.     Born  at  Columbia. 

These  sixteen  men,  all  of  whom  are  dead  except 
the  two  last  named,  have  been  honored  by  their  brethren 
with  the  presiding  chair  at  the  annual  meetings  of  the 
General  Association. 

Section  II. 

ASSISTANT  MODERATORS. 

In  the  year  i876 — of  American  independence,  the 
one  hundredth  year,  the  constitution  of  the  General 
Association  was  so  amended  as  to  create  the  office  of 
assistant  moderator.  The  design  of  this  office  was  that, 
one  might  be  ready  in  case  of  emergency,  to  fill  the 
chair  of  a  moderator. 

The  first  election  under  the  amended  constitution, 
of  assistant  moderator  was  in  i877,  and  Deacon  L.  B. 
Ely  was  the  choice;  he  was  re-elected  at  each  success- 
ive session  to  and  including  1880. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Maple,  D.  D.,  was  elected  assistant  mod- 
erator in  1 88 1. 

Rev.  J.  D.  Murphy  was  elected  in  1882. 

Ex-Gov.  C.  H.  Hardin  was  elected  in  1883  and  re- 
elected each  succeeding  year  until  and  including  1886. 
Gov.  Hardin  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1820,  and  died 
at  Mexico,  July  29,  1892. 

Rev.  John  P.  Greene,  D.  D.,  was  elected  in  i887. 

Rochester  Ford,  Esq.,  was  elected  in  1888. 

Hon.  John  B.  Wornall  was  elected  in  1889  (see 
Section  I,  Moderators)  and  was  re-elected  in  1890. 


A  Convenient  Summary.  377 

Deacon  E.  W.  Stephens  was  elected  in  1891. 

R.  C.  Clark,  Esq.,  was  elected  in  1892. 

Deacon  T.  M.  lames  was  elected  in  1893  and  re- 
elected in  1894  and  in  1896. 

Rev.  S.  Y.  Pitts  was  elected  in  1895. 

Hon.  Noah  M.  Givan  was  elected  in  1897. 

Rev.  J.  F.  Kemper  was  elected  in  1898. 

All  of  the  before  named  assistant  moderators  ex- 
cept two  last  named,  served  as  assistants  to  the  writer 
of  this  book,  and  it  gives  him  an  unqualified  pleasure  to 
testify  to  their  courtesy  and  efficiency  in  rendering  as- 
sistance when  required. 

Only  three  of  the  assistant  moderators  have  been 
gathered  to  their  Fathers:  The  Hons.  J.  B.  Wornall, 
Chas.  H.  Hardin  and  L.  B.  Ely.  The  others  remain,  up 
to  this  Avriting,  December,  1898,  active  and  influential 
members  of  the  General  Association. 

Section  III. 

RECORDING  SECRETARIES. 

The  recording  secretaries  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion have  been : 

Rev.  R.  S.  Thomas,  D.  D.,  frequently  mentioned 
in  preceding  chapters. 

William  Wright,  a  brother  of  Leland  Wright,  a 
historic  pillar  in  the  General  Association,  and  fre- 
quently mentioned  in  former  pages  of  this  book.  Wil- 
liam Wright  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Virginia,  in 
1797.  He  was  reared  as  a  merchant.  He  came  to 
Howard  county,  Missouri,  in  1825.  He  was  highly 
esteemed  as  an  honorable  gentleman  and  loved  as  an 
earnest  and  consistent  christian.  He  died  in  Yazoo 
City,  Mississippi,  in  1853. 

G.  M.  Bower,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Fauquier  county, 
Virginia,  December  12,  1790.  He  was  an  able  and 
devout  man.     He  was  eminent  in  the  medical  profes- 


37^  A  Convenient  Summary. 

sion,  zealous  and  useful  as  a  christian,  and  served  his 
country  ably  in  the  national  congress.  He  died  at 
Paris,  in  Monroe  county,  Missouri,  November  i7,  1864. 

Hon.  Wm.  Carson. — See  Section  I,  Moderators. 

W.  M.  Quince.  This  brother  was  recording  secre- 
tary in  1836.  It  is  greatly  regretted  that  there  is  no 
available  information  concerning  him. 

Jordan  Ohrian  was  born  in  Chatham  county.  North 
Carolina,  September  i7,  1794.  He  died  in  Cooper 
county,  March  14,  1858.  He  was  respected  for  his 
christian  virtues  and  social  worth.  He  was  an  active 
promoter  of  the  mission  cause  in  the  days  of  divisions, 
factions  and  contentions. 

Wade  M.  Jackson  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the 
General  Association.  A  sketch  of  his  life  is  given  in  a 
former  chapter. 

Hon.  Wm.  M.  McPherson,  a  lawyer  and  business 
man  of  St.  Louis,  has  been  frequently  mentioned  in 
preceding  chapters.  He  was  born  in  Boone  county, 
Kentucky,  February  13,  1813.  He  was  for  years  an 
influential  member  of  Second  Baptist  church,  St.  Louis, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  affairs  of  the  denom- 
ination in  the  state.     He  died  in  i872. 

M.  F.  Price  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky, 
March  6,  1806.  This  was  indeed  a  man  of  God.  In 
Missouri  he  was  eminently  useful  in  christian  effort. 
He  died  in  Lafayette  county,  Missouri,  March  27,  i877. 
In  his  life  he,  though  not  a  preacher,  was  mainly  instru- 
mental in  constituting  the  church  in  Lexington,  Mis- 
souri, which  was  accomplished  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
year  1839. 

Re7>.  S.  B.  Johnson.  But  little  is  known  of  this 
brother  other  than  the  information  furnished  Dr.  G.  W. 
Hyde  for  the  semicentennial  volume,  by  Dr.  John  T. 
Williams..  He  died  in  St.  Louis  about  the  year  1881. 
It  is  the  impression  of  this  brother  that  Bro.  Johnson 
was  for  several  years  before  his  death  engaged  on  the 


A  Convenient  Summary.  379 

staff  of  the  Missouri  Republic,  mainly  in  charge  of  the 
religious  news  department. 

Rev.  Dan'l  Read,  LL.  D.  This  eminent  scholar, 
educator  and  preacher  was  born  in  Orangeville,  New 
York,  April  11,  1825.  He  was  for  several  years  pas- 
tor of  Second  Baptist  church,  St.  Louis.  He  accepted 
the  presidency  of  Shurtleff  College  at  Alton,  Illinois, 
and  for  this  institution  did  a  work  that  put  it  upon  a 
firmer  foundation  than  it  had  ever  had.  From  Shurt- 
leff he  went,  in  1873,  to  the  pastorate  of  First  Baptist 
church,  Williamsburg,  New  York. 

Rev.  W.  M.  Bell.  It  would  be  difficult  to  tell  the 
Baptists  of  Missouri  anything  they  do  not  know  of  this 
eminent  citizen  and  beloved  man  of  God.  He  was 
born  in  Richmond,  Virginia,  July  23,  1823.  He  came 
to  Missouri  when  but  a  youth,  having  been  left  in  or- 
phanage when  but  a  lad.  He  was  converted  under  the 
ministry  of  the  renowned  A.  P.  Williams.  The  Bethel 
church,  in  Saline  county,  Missouri,  into  the  fellowship 
of  which  he  was  baptized,  licensed  him  in  1848  to  preach 
the  gospel.  In  1850,  the  same  church  called  for  his  or- 
dination. As  a  pastor,  promoter  of  missions,  of  educa- 
tion and  religious  publications ;  as  an  active  member  of 
the  General  Association,  as  long  time  moderator  of 
the  State  Alinister's  Meeting,  and  for  a  great  many 
years  moderator  of  Saline  Association,  he  has,  under 
God,  made  himself  one  of  Missouri's  most  useful  min- 
isters. According  to  his  own  testimony  of  his  personal 
experience,  he  is  a  monument  of  God's  amazing  grace. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  R.  E.  McDaniel. 
She  made  him  a  wife  good,  noble  and  helpful.  Devot- 
ing herself  to  the  duties  of  christian  wifehood  and 
motherhood. 

Edzi'iii  IV.  Stephens,  now  the  moderator  of  the 
General  Association,  served  several  terms  as  recording 


3S0  A  Convenient  Summary. 

secretary.  His  subsequent  nomination  testifies  to  the 
esteem  in  which  his  brethren  hold  his  official  efficiency 
and  personal  qualities.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
most  extensive  and  elaborate  book  and  publishing  house 
in  Missouri,  and  proprietor  of  the  Columbia  Herald, 
a  widely  celebrated  weekly  journal  founded  by  him  in 
the  days  of  his  youth. 

Rev.  Manly  J.  Breaker,  D.  D.,  served  as  recording 
secretary  in  1873,  while  he  was  yet  a  youthful  preacher. 
He  has  attained  eminence  as  a  thinker,  preacher  and 
writer,  and  is  at  present  (1898)  the  corresponding  sec- 
retary of  the  General  Home  and  Foreign  Mission  Board 
of  the  Missouri  General  Association. 

John  T.  Williams  served  in  all  eighteen  years  as 
recording  secretary.  He  was  the  incumbent  of  that  of- 
fice at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1 89 1.  The  memorial  services  held  by  the  Gen- 
eral Association  in  October,  1891, during  which  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  provide  a  monument  to  the  de- 
parted secretary,  was  a  most  tenderly  pathetic  service. 
Dr.  Williams  was  a  faithful  officer  and  companionable 
gentleman,  and  his  death  was  a  realized  loss.  While 
Dr.  Williams  was  an  earnest  and  polished  preacher,  it 
was  as  an  educator  that  he  gained  his  eminence  and  es- 
tablished his  usefulness. 

Rev.  Sam  Frank  Taylor,  D.  D.,  was  Dr.  Williams' 
successor.  He  held  the  office  of  secretary  from  1891 
to  1896,  at  which  time  he  declined  to  be  nominated  as 
his  own  successor.  Dr.  Taylor  is  now,  and  has  been 
for  several  years,  the  very  acceptable  and  successful 
president  of  Stephens  College,  at  Columbia. 

Dr.  Taylor  was  succeeded  by  A.  W.  Payne,  Esq., 
of  the  Central  Baptist,  and  has  held  the  office  since  Oc- 
tober, 1896.  His  efficiency  and  genial  manners  make 
him  a  popular  officer. 


A  Convenient  Summary.  3S1 

SectiOxX  IV. 

AUDITORS. 

Prior  to  i876  the  accounts  of  the  treasurer  were 
examined  and  reported  upon  to  the  General  Associa- 
tion by  a  committee  on  finance.  This  method  was  in 
some  respects  unsatisfactory,  and  that  year  the  consti- 
tution was  amended  by  creating  the  office  of  auditor, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  treas- 
urer as  to  receipts,  disbursements  and  vouchers.  The 
first  election  for  auditor  took  place  in  i877,  and  A.  C. 
Avery,  of  Clinton,  was  chosen  to  the  position.  He  held 
the  office  until  and  including  the  session  of  1886.  At 
the  session  of  i887  Deacon  James  L.  Applegate  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  auditor,  and  has  discharged  the 
duties  with  great  care  fidelity  and  accuracy  to  the  pres- 
ent time  (1898). 

Up  to  i877  it  was  the  habit  of  the  finance  commit- 
tee to  announce  that  they  could  be  found  in  a  certain 
corner  of  the  house  in  which  the  Association  was  in  ses- 
sion, and  that  all  persons  who  had  brought  up  offer- 
ings to  state  missions  would  please  come  to  the  commit- 
tee and  pay  to  them  the  sums  of  money  sent  up.  This 
practice  invariably  disturbed  the  business  of  the  Asso- 
ciation for  hours  after  the  announcement,  and  at  .irreg- 
ular times  during  the  sessions.  The  committee  could 
not  get  the  name  of  the  church,  or  association,  or  indi- 
vidual sending  up  the  offering  without  considerable 
talking,  and  often  part  of  the  money  was  in  specie,  and 
the  ringing  clink  of  the  change  as  it  was  counted  on  a 
table,  could  be  heard  all  over  the  house,  mingled  with 
the  voices  of  depositors  and  committee — some  of  whom, 
of  course  were  solicitous  that  everybody  know  they 
were  engaged  in  a  great  business — so  that  the  mingled 
sound  of  money  and  voices  rendered  other  business  out 
of  the  question  for  the  time  being.     The  moderator  for 


382  A  Convenient  Summary. 

i877,  that  being  the  first  year  of  his  occupancy  of  the 
chair,  made  an  innovation  of  this  long  estabhshed  cus- 
tom by  announcing  that  the  treasurer  could  be  seen  at 
a  certain  place — a  side  room  in  the  building  if  any — 
and  that  all  offerings  would  be  paid  to  him.  This  de- 
parture brought  order  and  quiet  out  of  annoying  and 
time  wasting  confusion.  The  custom  now  has  become 
so  well  settled  under  the  deliberate  and  composed  man- 
ner of  treasurer  Guthrie,  that  announcements  are  no 
longer  necessar3\  The  treasurer  gets  all  the  money 
sent  up  to  the  Association,  and  it  is  so  silently  and  sys- 
tematically done  that  the  great  body  of  messengers 
know  nothing  of  it.  This  innovation,  as  small  as  it 
may  seem,  has  been  a  chief  contribution  to  the  order  and 
dignified  manner  that  has  for  so  many  years  character- 
ized the  deliberations  of  the  General  Association. 

Section  V. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARIES. 

Nearly  all  of  the  men  who  have  served  as  corre- 
sponding secretary  have  had  mention,  in  connection 
with  their  work,  in  preceding  pages.  But  for  conven- 
ience of  reference  they  are  here  mentioned  in  chrono- 
logical order: 

Rev.  R.  S.  Thomas,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained, 
was  the  first  corresponding  secretary  of  the  executive 
board.  He  was  chosen  to  the  office  at  least  as  early  as 
1839.  He  is  frequently  mentioned  in  preceding  chap- 
ters. 

Deacon  Leland  Wright,  often  named  in  this  vol- 
ume, was  corresponding  secretary  in  the  years  i844-'45- 
'47-'49'-53-'65  and '66. 

Wade  M.  Jackson  was  corresponding  secretary  in 
i850-'52  inclusive.  So  prominent  was  this  man  in  the 
early  history  of  the  General  Association  that  his  name 
is  a  part  of  that  history. 


A  Convenient  Summary.  3S3 

Samuel  C.  Major  is  necessarily  a  conspicuous  name 
in  this  history.  He  was  corresponding  secretary  and 
president  of  the  executive  board  alternately  for  many 
years  before  the  office  of  corresponding  secretary  be- 
came an  established  order  in  the  organic  law  of  the  con- 
stitution. 

Rev.  Nathan  Ayers  held  the  office  for  one  year, 
1859- '60.  An  account  of  his  work  is  given  in  the  chap- 
ter (Agencies  and  Agents).  He  was  the  first  corre- 
sponding secretary  who  received  a  salary. 

Rev.  Wily  J.  Patrick.  This  eminent  minister  of 
the  gospel  was  Bro.  Ayers'  successor,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  corresponding  secretary,  without  charge, 
for  one  year.     He  is  heretofore  mentioned  in  this  book. 

Rev.  Jesse  A.  Harris  was  corresponding  secretary 
in  i867.  This  kind  hearted  and  noble  man,  honored  of 
all  men  who  knew  him,  has  place  in  our  history  here- 
tofore recorded. 

Rev.  John  M.  Robinson.  This  eminent  servant  of 
the  General  Association,  written  of  in  the  chapter  on 
"Agencies  and  Agents,"  was  corresponding  secretary 
from  1868  to  i87o  inclusive. 

Rev.  IV.  R.  Rothzvell,  a  factor  in  the  history  of  the 
General  Association,  was  corresponding  secretary  from 
January,  i87i,  to  January,  i872. 

Rev.  B.  T.  Taylor  filled  the  office  from  February 
to  October,  1873.  He  is  an  intellectual  giant  of  ardent 
temperament,  impulse,  disposition  and  erratic  manners, 
As  a  thinker  he  has  few  equals. 

Rev.  Joshua  Hickman  was  the  incumbent  in  i872, 
and  then  in  i877  and  i878.  See  chapter  "Agencies  and 
Agents," 

Rev.  S.  W.  Marston  became  corresponding  secre- 
tary in  1873,  and  continued  until  i876.  See  "Agencies 
and  Agents." 

Rev.  J.  D.  Murphy  was  in  the  office  of  correspond- 
ing secretary  for  a  part  of  the  year  i876.     Dr,  Murphy 


3S4  A  Convenient  Swnmary. 

is  a  native  Missourian,  a  nephew  of  the  "Andrew  Ful- 
ler of  America" — Dr.  A.  P.Williams,  and  as  a  Bible  stu- 
dent and  expounder  he  is  not  unlike  his  lamented  kins- 
man. He  now  resides  at  Sedalia,  Missouri,  a  strong 
preacher,  clear  writer  and  useful  man. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman  was  corresponding  secretary 
from  November,  i878,  till  October,  1886. 

Ex-Gov.  C.  H.  Hardin  was  corresponding  sec- 
retary for  the  month  of  November,  1886.  He  was 
succeeded  in  the  office  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Armstrong, 
who  continued  in  office  until  December,  i887,  and  was 
succeeded  by  the  election  of  Rez'.  S.  M.  Brown,  who 
served  until  1892.  Dr.  Armstrong  never  consented  to 
hold  the  office  longer  than  a  suitable  successor  could  be 
secured.  His  administration  of  the  office  was  skillful 
and  successful.  Bro.  Brown's  able  work  is  discussed 
in  chapter  on  ''Agencies  and  Agents." 

Rev.  Win.  T.  Campbell  was  an  efficient  and  popu- 
lar corresponding  secretary  from  October,  1892,  to  Oc- 
tober, 1897.     See  "Agencies  and  Agents." 

Rev.  T.  L.  West  succeeded  Bro.  Campbell  in  Oc- 
tober, 1897,  and  is  now  (1898)  the  vigorous  and  highly 
acceptable  incumbent.  He  retired  from  the  pastorate 
at  Carrollton,  Missouri,  much  to  the  regret  of  the 
church  and  congregation,  to  respond  to  the  urgent  call 
of  the  State  Mission  Board  to  this  important  office. 

A  careful  and  unbiased  study  of  the  duties  and 
work  of  the  corresponding  secretaries  of  the  General 
Association  of  Missouri  Baptists  reveals  the  interesting 
and  suggestive  fact  that  the  office  is  a  leading  factor 
in  the  forces  of  our  denominational  progress  in  the 
state. 

Section  VI. 

TREASURERS. 

The  treasurers  of  the  executive  boards  of  the  Gen- 
eral  Association   have   been:     S.    C.    Major,    Roland 


A  Convenient  Sumiiiory.  3S5 

Hughes,  Wade  M.  Jackson,  James  Harris,  L.  B.  Ely, 
Robt.  T.  Prewitt,  Geo.  W.  Trimble,  Marshall  Brother- 
ton,  Wm.  M.  Senter,  John  A.  Guthrie.  See  "Agencies 
and  Agents." 

Note  : — For  presidents  of  the  executive  board, 
see  chapter  "Agencies  and  Agents." 

Section  VH. 

missionaries. 

In  preceding  chapters  missionaries  have  often  been 
named  in  connection  with  their  work.  It  is  impracti- 
cable to  give  the  name  of  each  individual  missionary 
that  has  labored  in  the  sixty- four  years  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  Association. 

Since  1834  there  have  been  commissioned  by  the 
General  Association  536  different  men  as  general  mis- 
sionaries for  the  state,  local  missionaries  and  mission- 
ary pastors.  In  this  count  there  is  no  duplication  of 
persons.  If  all  the  men  who  have  labored  more  than 
one  year  were  counted  as  a  missionary  for  each  year  of 
service,  which  would  be  legitimate,  the  number  above 
given  would  be  not  much  short  of  1,000.  One  thous- 
and men  within  sixty-four  years,  in  a  single  state,  in 
addition  to  stated  pastors,  makes  quite  a  host  at  work 
for  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  his  christ.  There  is  not, 
perhaps,  a  single  living  contributor  to  the  support  of 
this  army,  who  regrets  what  he  or  she  has  done  to  sus- 
tain the  great  cause.  And  the  contributors  who  have 
gone  to  their  final  reward,  are,  doubtless,  rejoicing  that 
they  were  permitted  to  help. 

The  missionaries  themselves,  many  of  whom  have 
laid  down  the  cross  for  the  crown,  knew  not  while  toil- 
ing in  humble  devotion,  the  service  they  were  render- 
ing to  an  enterprise  that  brightens  the  earth  and  makes 
gladness  in  heaven. 

^5 


386  A  Convenient  Summary. 

Section  VIII. 

THE  MONEY  EXPENDED  IN  THIS  WORK. 

The  total  sum  expended  in  state  missions  in  Mis- 
souri since  the  organization  of  the  General  Associa- 
tion in  1834,  is  $315,961.39.  This  makes  an  average 
of  $4,935.11%  per  year  for  the  whole  period.  The 
smallest  amount  ever  expended  in  one  year  was  prob- 
ably $69,  and  the  largest  was  $15,799.25.  The  sum 
total  for  the  whole  period  may  not,  at  superficial  view 
appear  large,  and  the  average  per  annum  may  seem 
small,  but  the  consideration  of  a  few  facts  may  remove 
these  appearances :  First.  At  the  time  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Association,  the  entire  population  of  the 
state  did  not  exceed  250,000 — not  half  as  many  as  are 
now  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis ;  and  not  more  than  60,000, 
in  excess  of  the  present  population  of  Kansas  City, 
which  has  come  in  existence  since  the  General  Associa- 
tion was  organized.  Now  there  are  3,000,000  people 
in  the  state.  A  growth  of  two  and  three  quarter  mil- 
lions in  sixty-four  years,  which  is  an  increase  of  nearly 
43,000  a  year. 

Second.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
General  Association,  there  were  but  about  5,350  Bap- 
tists in  the  state;  now  there  are  about  138,000.  Then 
there  were  only  about  75  Baptist  preachers,  and  only 
150  churches.  Now  there  are  more  than  1,000  preach- 
ers and  more  than  1,500  churches. 

Third.  The  General  Association  at  the  outset  en- 
countered a  violent  and  malignant  opposition  from  Bap- 
tists, Baptist  churches  and  associations.  It  is  no  sur- 
prise that  the  first  ten  years  yielded  only  a  few  hundred 
dollars  for  state  missions. 

Fourth.  In  the  years  1862,  '63  and  '64,  nothing 
was  done  for  state  missions.  The  cruel  hand  of  war 
stayed  the  progress  of  evangelizing  enterprises  in  Mis- 
souri.    And  in  i877-'78  and  '79  there  was  a  great  fall- 


A  Convenient  Summary.  3S7 

ing  off  in  state  mission  contributions  from  the  revival 
of  the  work  that  began  in  1865  and  continued  to  1873. 
In  the  year  closing  October,  1872,  the  sum  of  $9,560.25 
— mainly  raised  by  Dr.  Rothwell — was  collected  and  ex- 
pended directly  for  state  missions;  while  in  i878  the 
collections  had  fallen  off  to  $1,125.35.  The  Associa- 
tion was  bankrupt  and  the  work  was  involved  in 
"chaos"  and  much  opposition  to  the  Association  had 
grown  up. 

Fifth.  The  above  total  of  $3i5'96i-39  does  not  in- 
clude the  money  raised  by  district  associations  and  ex- 
pended on  their  own  fields,  where  the  General  Associa- 
tion did  not  supplement  the  local  appropriations  by  co- 
operative arrangements.  In  all  cases,  in  making  the 
above  estimate,  the  sums  raised  and  expended  by  non- 
cooperating  associations,  when  reported,  have  been 
stricken  out,  so  as  to  reduce  the  sum  total  to  the  amount 
raised  and  expended  in  the  name  of  and  by  the  General 
Association. 

It  is  well  for  persons  not  informed  as  to  Bap- 
tist methods,  to  know  that  by  the  term  "State  Missions" 
is  meant  the  work  done  by  the  General  Association, 
and  does  not  include  expenditures,  nor  work,  nor  re- 
sults of  work  by  district  associations,  churches  or  in- 
dependent evangelists.     It  has  happened  that  the  press 
of  other  denominations  and  the  secular  press  have  given 
the  financial  statistics  and  the  number  of  baptisms  re- 
ported by  the  General  Association,  as  the  totals  of  the 
annual  operations  of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  the 
state.     This  blunder  proceeds  from  a  misapprehension 
of   Baptist  polity.     The   General   Association   reports 
nothing  but  its  own  work,  says  nothing  of  the  work  of 
the  churches  of  the  district  associations,  except  an  occa- 
sional statistical  table  printed  in  the  minutes  for  in- 
formation, but  never  as  its  own  work.     If  the  expendi- 
tures bv  district  associations  for  mission  work  in  their 
own  bounds  were  annually  added  to  the  annual  expend- 


3SS  A  Convenient  Siuninary. 

itnres  of  the  General  Association,  the  amount  would 
be  more  than  double. 

When  these  facts  are  all  considered  it  is  believed 
that  the  financial  showing  of  the  General  Association, 
while  not  what  it  might  have  been,  and  ought  to  have 
been,  is  decidedly  encouraging,  and  by  no  means  a  re- 
buke to  Missouri  Baptists.  While  they  have  been  giv- 
ing this  money  to  state  missions,  they  have  given  their 
many  thousands  to  district  missions,  general  home  and 
foreign  missions,  christian  education,  ministerial  edu- 
cation, Sunday  School  mission  work,  publication  socie- 
ties, orphans'  homes  and  sanitariums,  and  innumerable 
incidental  objects  that  appeal  to  christian  beneficence. 
It  is  true  that  there  are  thousands  of  Baptists  in  the 
state  who  decline  to  have  any  part  or  lot  in  these  great 
works,  yet  "the  remnant  according  to  election,"  who  do 
come  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  Mighty,  are 
not,  all  things  considered,  behind  their  brethren  in 
other  parts  of  the  country. 

Section  IX. 

THE  FRUITS  OF  STATE  MISSION  WORK. 

The  records  of  the  General  Association  show  that 
in  fifty-four  years  of  the  sixty-four  years  since  the 
meeting  at  Providence  in  1834,  the  missionaries  of  the 
General  Association  have  reported  120,331  sermons 
preached  by  them.  It  is  impossible  to  estimate  the 
good  accomplished  by  the  preaching  of  the  truth  as  it 
is  in  Christ.  You  can  not  estimate  it  by  the  number  of 
individual  professions  of  faith  in  Christ  nor  by  the 
number  of  baptisms  administered  upon  profession  of 
that  faith.  The  upbuilding  of  the  church  of  Christ  in 
christian  intelligence,  the  promotion  of  spiritual  mind- 
edness,  the  development  of  the  spirit  of  christian  en- 
terprise and  beneficence;  and  to  these  must  be  added 
the  good  influence  on  general  social  conditions,  all  of 
which  is  above  computation  by  figures. 


A  Convenient  Sunnnary.  3S9 

The  number  of  persons  baptized  by  the  missiona- 
ries of  the  General  Association,  since  the  Association 
began  sending  forth  missionaries  into  the  state,  is  26,- 
582.  Nor  does  this  number  include  all  that  the  mis- 
sionaries of  the  General  Association  have  baptized,  for 
in  the  earlier  days  of  the  work  the  missionaries  were 
'either  careless  about  their  reports,  or  did  not  under- 
stand the  importance  of  clearness  and  fullness  of  re- 
port. The  original  executive  board  frequently  made 
complaint  of  this  fault  of  the  missionaries,  and  several 
times  adopted  stringent  rules  to  overcome  the  fault. 
Neither  have  the  missionaries  reported  the  baptisms  of 
all  the  converts  under  their  ministry,  as  the  pastors  of 
the  feeble  churches  aided  by  the  missionaries  would 
administer  the  ordinance  to  the  converts. 

But  a  comparison  of  the  results  of  missionary  la- 
bor with  pastoral  labor  illustrates  the  value  of  the  work. 
The  results  above  stated  show  one  baptism  for  every 
four  and  a  half  sermons,  or  in  other  words,  two  bap- 
tisms for  every  nine  sermons.  A  few  simple  calcula- 
tions will  show  that  pastoral  labor  does  not  reach  this 
result,  taking  all  the  churches  into  the  account.  The 
pastor  who  serves  a  church  full  time,  does  not  preach 
less  than  104  sermons  a  year,  as  a  rule  he  preaches  a 
greater  number.  Yet  there  are  but  few  pastorates  that 
will  average  for  a  series  of  years,  say  five  years,  twen- 
ty-three baptisms  a  year.  A  pastor  who  serves  a  church 
one-fourth  time,  as  is  the  case  with  many  of  our  country 
churches,  preaches  not  less  than  24  pastoral  sermons 
in  the  year.  If  he  holds  a  protracted  meeting  each 
year,  he  or  some  one  for  him  will  preach  twice  a  day, 
for,  say  two  weeks,  this  will  add  28  sermons  to  the 
twenty-four,  making  fifty-two  sermons.  Our  pro- 
tracted meetings  will  not,  taking  the  country  over,  av- 
erage two  baptisms  for  every  nine  sermons.  Our  pro- 
tracted meetings  of  two  weeks'  duration  will  not  aver- 
age 1 1  baptisms  to  the  meeting. 


39°  '     A  Convenient  Summary. 

These  estimates  are  not  intended  to  depreciate 
pastoral  labor;  for  without  pastors,  churches  would 
cease  to  be,  and  without  the  churches  of  Christ  the 
world  would  be  wrapt  in  midnight  moral  darkness  in 
less  than  a  third  of  a  century. 

The  true  fruition  of  state  missions  can  not  be  real- 
ized without  taking  into  account  the  vast  work  done  in 
caring  for  the  religious  condition  of  centers  of  popula- 
tion. It  is  not  necessary  to  name  in  detail  every  vil- 
lage, town  and  city  church  in  Missouri  where  Baptist 
interests  have  been  promoted  by  the  General  Associa- 
tion. The  chapter  in  this  volume  on  "Centers  of  Popu- 
ation"  is  specific  enough  to  indicate  the  vastness  of  that 
work. 

Section  X. 

PREACHERS  INTRODUCTORY  SERMONS. 

A.  P.  Williams  :June  2,  1837.  Text  Romans  10. 

A.  P.  Williams:  May  31,  1839.  Text  Matt.  9:28,  29. 

A.  P.  Williams:  June  26,  1863. 

A.  P.  Williams:  August  19,  1865.  Text  Phil.  7:i2. 

Anderson  Woods:  June  i,  1838.  Text  James  i  :27. 

James  Suggett:  Aug.  28,  1840.  Text  Luke  24:46,  4?. 

Thos.  p.  Green:  Aug.  27,  1841.  Text  Matt.  20:14. 

Isaac  T.  Hinton  :  Aug.  25,  1842.  Text  Dan.  12  :i4. 

Isaac  T.  Hinton  :  Aug.  24,  1843.  Text  i  Cor.  9:7. 

Andrew  Broadus:  Aug.  23,  1844.  Text  2  Cor.  9:8. 

R.  N.  Herndon  :  Aug.  28,  1845.  Text  i  Thes.  i  :2,  3. 

S.  W.  Lynd:  Aug.  27,  1846.  Text  Gal.  6,  13. 

T.  C.  Harris:  Aug.  26,  1847.  Text  i  Cor.  i  :2. 

T.  C.  Harris:  Aug.  26,  1852.  Text  Isa. 53-10. 

W.  C.  Ligon:  Aug.  24,  1848.  Text  Eph.  2:18. 

Noah  Flood:  Aug.  23,  1849.  Text  i  Pet.  3:11. 

J.  E.  Welch:  Aug.  22,  1850.  Prov.  22:6. 

J.  E.  Welch  :  May  26,  1855.  Text  2  Sam.  22  :24. 

J.  B.  Jeter:  Aug.  28,  1851.  Text  Luke  8:1,  3. 


A  Convenient  Snuunary.  391 

R.  F.  Ellis:  May  25,  1853.  Text  Rom.  10:14. 

Geo.  a.  Lofton  :  Oct.  24,  i877.  Text  Mark  16 :2o. 

W.  W.  Boyd:  Oct.  23,  i878.  Text  Rom.  i  -.14. 

Wm.  Harris  :  Oct.  20,  1880.  Text  i  Thes.  i  :7,  8. 

J.  V.  Schofield:  Oct.  18,  1881.  Text  Mark  16:15. 

J.  D.  Murphy:  Oct.  18,  1882.  Text  Matt.  21 :3. 

J.  T.  Williams:  Oct.  24,  1883.  Text  John  6:63. 

G.  W.  Hatcher:  Oct.  21,  1884.  Text  Matt,  i  :23. 

E.  D.  Isbell:  Oct.  23,  1885.  Text  i  Cor.  i :  21. 

J.  P.  Greene:  Oct.  19,  1886.  i  Pet.  1:25. 

B.  G.  Tutt:  Oct.  18,  i887.  Text  John  6:30. 

A.  C.  Rafferty:  Oct.  i7,  1888.  Text  Eph.  4:28. 

J.  O.  B.  Lowry:  Oct.  15,  1889.  Text  John  i7:i. 

J.  W.  Ford:  Oct.  12,  1890.  Text  Rom.  i  :2o. 

T.  E.  Vassar:  Oct.  21,  1891.  Text  Heb.  2:8,  9. 

J.  S.  Kirtley:  Oct.  18,  1892.  Text  2  Cor.  5  :i9. 

J.  C.  Armstrong:  Oct.  24,  1893.  Text  Rom.  8:1. 

J.  B.  Fuller:  Oct  22,  1894.  Text  Matt.  28:19,  20. 

S.  M.  Brown:  Oct.  20,  1896.  Text  Acts  i  :8. 

W.  R.  L.  Smith  :  Oct  18,  1897.  Text  John  3  :i2. 

R.  P.  Johnston:  Oct.  i7,  1898.  Text  Matt.  28:19,  20. 

R.  H.  Harris  :  May  20,  1854.  Text  John  9 :4. 

Daniel  Reed:  May  23,  1856.  Text  John  16:8,  11. 

A.  Poindexter:  May  27,  1857.  Text  2  Cor.  5:14,  15. 

Wm.  Price:  May  21,  1858.  Text  i  Cor.  i  :48. 

E.  S.  Dulin:  July  26,  1859.  Text  Matt.  10:9,  10. 

E.  S.  Dulin:  Aug.  10,  1866.  Text  Judges  8:4. 

Galusha  Anderson:  July  21,  i860.  Text  John  12:24. 

John  Francis:  July  27,  1861.  Text  Isa.  53:2. 

Jos.  W.  Warder:  July  26,  1862.  Text  i  Tim.  4:6,  8. 

Chas.  Whiting:  Aug.  10,  i867.  Text  Luke  9:60. 

W.  H.  Thomas  :  Aug.  6,  1868.  Text  Num.  13 :30. 

James  Dixon  :  Aug.  4,  1869.  Text  Dan.  2:31,  35. 

Thos.  Rumbaut:  Oct.  i,  i87o.  Text  Mark  10:15. 

J,  H.  Luther:  Oct.  12,  i87i.  Text  John  21  :i6. 

J.  C.  Maple:  Oct.  10,  i872.  Text  Matt.  28:21. 

D.  G.  Morrill:  Oct.  8,  1873.  Text  Ps.  126:5,  6. 


392  A  Convenient  Summary. 

A.  Machette:  Oct.  6,  1874.  Text  Matt.  16:18. 

S.  H.  Ford:  Oct.  8,  1875.  Text  Josh.  3:12. 

S.  H.  Ford:    Oct.  22,  1879.  Text  Matt.  3:1. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman:  Oct.  18,  i876.  Text  i  John  4:7,  12. 

W.  Pope  Yeaman:  Oct.  22,  1895.  Text  Eph.  5:16. 

The  foregoing-  summary  concludes  this  volume, 
written  with  the  one  desire  to  interest  and  inform  Bap- 
tists concerning  the  struggles  and  successes  of  the  Gen- 
eral Association  in  faithful  efforts  to  advance  the  cause 
of  Christ  in  a  great  and  prosperous  state. 

The  author  has  been  actuated  by  but  a  single  mo- 
tive— the  perpetuation  of  the  names  and  works  of  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  great  work  of  glorifying  the  risen 
Redeemer  by  the  spread  of  His  truth  and  the  expansion 
of  His  Kingdom.  He  has  been  more  concerned  for 
truth  and  the  logic  of  facts,  than  for  rhetorical  excel- 
lence or  literary  reputation. 


INDEX. 


This  index  is  incomplete  on  account  of  the  protracted  illness 
of  the  author. 


Page. 

Adams,  John 20 

A  Decade  of  Progress ^6 

Advance  Movement 80 

Alden,  Noah    20 

Anderson,  G 175 

Admission  of  Missouri  as  a  State 28 

Agents  a  Necessity 241-242 

Agencies  and  Agents 222 

American  Sunday  School  Union 257 

Apostolic  Example  in  Mission  Work 274 

Armstrong,  J.  C,  Corresponding  Secretary 216 

Armstrong,  J.  C 311 

Armstrong,  Dr.,  Jubilee  Address 203 

Ayers,  Nathan,  First  Paid  Secretary 240 

Auxiliaries  and  Unification 314 

Auditors 381-382 

American  Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 314 

Applegate,  J.  L 342 

Assistant  Moderators 376-377 


Backus,  Rev.  Isaac. . .    20 

Bagby,  Mrs.  Anna  Luther 368 

Baker,  A.  F 217 

Baptist  Flag's  Antagonism 178-179 

Baptist  Flag.     Refusal  to  Endorse 179 

Baptists  and  Religious  Liberty 18-22 

Baptist  Home  Mission  Society 78 

Baptist  State  Convention 133-136 

Basis  of  Original  Organization 44 

Baskett,  J.S 83 

Barrett,  T.  W 141 

Basis  of  Representation g^ 

393 


394  Index. 

Beginning  of  General  Association 28 

Bell,  Miss  Flora.  .    372 

Bell,  W.  M   88-379 

Beauchamp,  S.  A. ...    2S9 

Bell's  Resolution  on  Agencies 23S 

Berrj,  Dr.  L.  M 203-205 

Bethel  Church,  Saline  Association 88,   122 

Black  Snake  Hills 71 

Board,  State  Mission  Reports  1877-8 163-164 

Board,  General  Home  and  Foreign  Missions 326-329 

Board,  Removal  to  St.  Louis 153 

Board,  Report  1878 164-168 

Bonne  Femme  Church 51 

Boone,  Daniel 13 

Bower,  G.  M 58 

Boulware,  Theoderick 41 

Bojd,  W.  W.,  Disclaimer 178 

Bowman,  T.  A 220 

Bojer,  W.  L 328 

Bibb,  M.  L 269 

Biggs,  J.  D 183 

Big  Lick  Church 81 

Breaker,  M.  J 328 

Brotherton,  Marshall 80 

Brown,  John 113 

Brown  Jno.  R . .    287 

Brick  Providence  Church . .   33-34 

Brown,  S.  M.,  Corresponding  Secretary 214 

Brown,  S.  M.,  Second  Term,  Corresponding  Secretary...   217 

Busby,  W.  C 282 

Butler,  Mrs.  Emeline   250 

Buckner,  X.  X 148 

Buckner,  Mrs .    149 

Buckner,  J,  S 266 

Burnham,  Dr.  W.  H 38 

Burnham,  Dr.  W.  H.,  Jubilee  Address .    197 

Burlingham  Dr.  A.  H 140 

Butler,  Gift . .    249 

Black,  G.  L 349 

Burnham,    Mrs.  J.  L    365 


Index.  395 


Campbell,  W.  T.,  Corresponding  Secretary   .    218 

Campbell,  F.  Y 290 

Carson,  Hon.  Wm 62 

Campbell,  VV.  T 2S6 

"Central  Society" 51 

Centers  of  Population 270 

Charitan  Church,  Meeting  at 68 

Chaotic  State  of  Missions 177 

Civil  Government 126 

Civil  War 11 1 

Circular  on  the  Civil  War.    120 

City  Influence  on  the  Country 273 

Cole,  Hon.  Nathan 145-231 

Collection,   1847 Si 

Collins,  M.  B 144 

Columbus,   Christopher i 

Collection,  First 60 

Cook,  J.  E 285 

Cook,   J.  F 355 

Columbia,  Meeting   at 1 53 

Columbia,  Meeting  at,   i86g 145 

Constitution,    First     ' 44 

Constitution  of  Missouri,  1S65 124 

Conclusion 392 

Convention,    (Name)    53 

Convention,  Dissolution  of 138-139 

Compromise  Plan I73 

Compromise  Plan,  Committee  on 171 

Crisis,  A 100 

D 

District  Association. ... 27 

Disturbance  at  Rehoboth 119 

Delmar  Avenue  Church 284 

Dixon,    Archibald    ill 

Douglas,  S.  A 112 

Dodge,  Mrs.   S.  E.,  Poem 204 

Duval 67 

Duncan,  R.  S viii-xvi-364 


396  Index. 

B 

Early  Life  in  Missouri 22-23 

Early  Associational  Customs 7^ 

Early  Reports  of  General  Association 332-334 

Early  Action  on  Paid  Agents 236-238 

Education  Centennial  Movement 342-348 

Education    330-332 

Education,  Commission 342 

Education,  Female 349 

Elliott,   Stephen 59 

Elliott,  W.F 59.232 

Elliott,  Mrs.  W,  F 360 

Ely,  L.  B 155,341-342 

Emerging  from  Darkness   133 

Endowment,  General  Association. 243 

Executive  Board,  First 226 

Executive  Board  at  Columbia 229 

Executive  Board  at  St.   Louis 229 

Executive  Board,  Removed  to  Mexico .    230 

Eminent  Exemplars 235 

Exhibit,  Financial  ( 1876) 161 

Executive  Committee,   First 63-69 

Endowment  Funds,  Summary  of 253 

F 

Farrington,  Mrs.  John 82,   364 

Fayette,  Home  of  First  Board   226 

Farmington    College 355 

Farmer,  Jeremiah 238 

P'armer,    Sarah  L.,  Fund 253 

Female  College,  State 147 

Feeble  Churches,  First  Committee  On ...   276 

Fleet,  A.  F 87 

Flood,  Rev.  Noah 153 

Ford,  S.  H 13,43,302 

Ford,  Dr.  S.  H.,  Jubilee  Address     203 

Fox,  Norman    307 

First  Moderator 50 

First  Missionaries 57 

First  Secretary 50 

Financial  Exhibit   1876 161 

Fristoe,  Thomas 31-57 


Index.  397 

Ferguson,  Wm 3"9 

Further  Committees -277 

Ford,  Mrs.  S.    II 3^4 

Fruits  of  State  Mission  Work 38S-3S9 

G 

Gavel,  Historic 13,     43 

Gavel,  Presentation  by  Dr.  Maple 13 

Gavel,  Presentation  by  Dr.  W.  H.  Williams 194 

Givan,  N.   M 233 

Gill,  Everett 282 

Guthrie,  John  A 233-235 

Glover,  W.   B 252 

Glasgow,  Meeting  at 151 

German  Mission  Society 90 

Grand  River  College 356 

H 

Hall,   Wornall    152 

Ham,  Rev.   A 57 

Hannibal 282 

Hardin    College     2S9,  355 

Hardin,  Hon.  C.  H ...54-55,214 

Hardin,  Mrs.  C.  H 54-55j  3^4 

Hardin,  Gov.,  Acting  Corresponding  Secretary 214 

Hardin,  C.  H.,  Fund 253 

Harris,  T.   C 93 

Harris,  Mrs.  W.  B 372 

Hatcher,  G.  W.,  Introductory  Sermon 189 

Hatcher,   Harvey 1 50 

Hatcher's  Resolution 150 

Hays,  Miss  Ida 369 

Haycraft,  P.  N 68 

Haycraft,  P.  N.,  Early  Mission  Work 201 

Herndon,  J.   C .      68 

Hickman,  D.    H 55,  143 

Hickman,  Isabel,  Fund ...  253 

Hickman,  Joshua 152,  163,  231,  2S5 

Hughes,  Roland 95 

Hughes,  T.   E 95 

Hughes,   W.J 68 

Hunt,  Rev.  M.   P 369 

Hyde,  Dr.  G.  W 58,  203 

Hyde,  Mrs.  G.  W 363 


398  Index. 


Jackson,  John 32 

Jackson,  Wade   M . .  228 

James,  Robert,  Mission  Work  in  '48   .    201 

James,  T.  M 2S1-287 

Jefferson  City,  Meeting  at  (1843)    69 

Jefferson  City  Mission .• .  . .      .  .  279 

Jefferson,  Thomas . .    .    i 

Jeter,  Dr 283 

Jewell,  Wm. ,  M.  D 332,  340 

Johnston,  J.  T.  M.,   Sr 280 

Johnston,  Dr.  J.  T.  M. 280 

Johnston,  Dr.  R.  P 284 

Jubilee,  A 182 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Welcome 189 

Jubilee,  Address  Accepting  Gavel 195 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr.  Burnham .....    ....    197 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr.  Patrick 197 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr.  J.  T.  Williams 203 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr,  Armstrong 203 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr.    Rothwell 203 

Jubilee,  Address  of  Dr.    Ford 203 

Jubilee,  Cane  Presentation  to  Dr.  Maple 196 

Jubilee,  Cane  Presentation  to  Moderator 191 

Jubilee,  Exhibit  of  Work  and    Finances   196 

Jubilee,  Golden  Programme 197 

Jubilee,  Moderator's  Response  to  Cane  Presentation 193 

Jubilee,  Presentation  of  Gavel 194 

Jubilee,  Introductory  Sermon  by  G.  W.    Hatcher 189 

Jubilee,  Meeting  at  Marshall 1S8 

Jubilee,  Sermon  by  W.  Pope  Yeaman   203 

Jubilee,  Resolutions  to  Celebrate 184 

Jubilee,  Recommendations  of  State   Board 185 

Jubilee,  Report  of  Committee  on  Plan 186 

Jubilee,  Response  to  Address  of  Welcome 190 

Jubilee,  Heavenly  Galaxy 207 

Jubilee,  Poem,  Mrs.  S.  E.   Dodge 204 


Kansas,  War 111-113 

Keep,  W.   W 81 

Kansas  City  Missions 286 

Keltner,  J.  W 220 


Index.  399 

Kemper,  J.  F 233 

Kendrick,  A.  A 306-307 

Kline,  L.    E.,  Golden  Programme I97 

Kenney,  T.  M.  S 3^8 


Laws,  M.  L.,  S.  S.  Missionary  Secretary 264 

Lawless,  J.   L 2S5 

La  Grange   College 355 

Lexington   78»  80,   102 

Lexington  College 355 

Liberty  Church,  Meeting  at 88 

Ligon,'  W.  C,  Early  Mission  Work 201 

Ligon,  W.  C 84 

Little  Bonne  Femme  Association 53 

Livingston,    Robert . . 4 

Lockett,  Thos.  F Qi 

Longan,  Rev.  J.  B 57 

Louisiana,  Purchase  of 35 

Luther,  Dr.  Jno.  Hill     304-305 

Lynd,  S.  W 81 

M 

Maple,  J.  C n,  173 

Maple,  J.  C,  Speech  on  Religious  Publication 180 

Maple,  J.  C,  Address  of  Welcome 189 

Maple,   J.  C 232 

Maple,  J.  C,  Cane   Presentation  to   196 

Maple,  Mrs.  J.  C 37i 

Maiden,  R.  K 3^3 

Manning,  Dr 21 

Mansfield,  W.  H    31 

Martin,   L.  E 220 

Martin,  A.  F 67 

Martin,  A.  F.,  Mission  Work  in    1844 201 

Marston,  S.  W. i53 

Massachusetts  Baptists 20 

Mexico,  Meeting  at   (1S7S) 163-164 

Mayfield,  Dr.  W.  H 284 

Macon,  Meeting  at 152 

Majors,  Samuel  C 70,  123,  227 

McDaniel,  R.  E 1-2 


400  Index. 

McPherson,  Wm.   M .     94 

McQuie,  Wm 155 

McKillop,  Mary  P.,   Fund 253 

Million,  J.  W ZS^ 

Mexico  Mission. 28S 

Moss,  Mrs.  O.  P 361 

Moderators 374-376 

Missouri,  Admitted  to  Union 28 

Missouri,  Misunderstood 30 

Missouri  Baptist 296 

Missouri  and  Illinois  Baptist . .    . .    296 

Missouri  Baptist  Publication  Society 302 

Missouri  Baptist 302 

Missouri  Baptist  Journal 304 

Missions,  Division  on loi,    107 

Missions,  Fielding  Wilhite,  1844 199 

Missionary  Galaxy 202 

Missionary  Secretary,  M.  L.  Laws 264 

Missionaries 385 

Monroe,  James   4 

Money  Expended - 386-388 

Morrill,  D.  T 153 

Murphy,  D.  R 160-162 

Murphy,  J.  D 160-162,376-383 

Mt.  Nebo  Church,  1849 S4 

Mt.  Pleasant  Association,  Disaffection 169 

N 

Napoleon 3 

Natural  Law  in  Spiritual  Life 273 

New  Madrid  Settlement 10 

New  Era,  A 304 

New  State  Convention 124 

New  State  Convention,  Committee  on ...  65,  126 

Neal,  Judge,  Gift 245 

New  Hope  Church  Fund 253 


Oath  of  Loyalty 125 

Opposition  to  Organization 48-49 


J  ndcx. 


Painter,  W.   R 305 

Palmvra,  Meeting  at  (1S61;)    124 

Pajne,  A.   W 311 

Parent  Society-  (?) 73 

Patrick,  W.J 279,   241 

Patrick,  W.  J.,  Jubilee  Address    197 

Patrick,  \V.  J      309 

Personnel  of  Original  Meeting     .      46 

Peyton.  Anna  B.,  Fund 252 

Pattee  I'ark    Church 285 

Peck,  J.  M 27 

Pitts,  Y.   R 150 

Pittman.  N.  R 285,289 

Plan  of  Original  Constitution .  .44-45 

Periodicals,  Committees  on 297-299 

Population  of  Missouri  in  1834 28-29 

Post  Jubilee  Period .    210 

Press,   The 292-295 

Preachers  and  Politics ...  21 1-213 

Presbyterians  and  Religious  Liberty      21 

R 

Rafferty,  A.  C 217 

Rambaut,  Dr.  Thomas 150 

Ratification  of  First  Amendment  of  U.  S.  Constitution.  .19-20 

Reid,   James 13,  220 

Redding,   Felix 104 

Rehoboth,   Disturbance    at      119 

Report  of  Board,    1879     .        I73-I75 

Report    of  Finances,  1879 .  175 

Report  of  Committee  on  Work  of  Board,  1879 .  .  176 

Report  of  Board,    1877    163 

Report  of  Board,    1S78 163-164 

Report  of  Committee  on  War   Circular 120 

Report  of  Committee  on  Constitution  of  1865 124 

Removal  of  Board  to  St.  Louis    .  .  153 

Resolutions  on  New  Constitution 174 

Resolutions  Approving  \'indication      .  181 

Rhoades,  R.    M 304 

Roanoke,  Meeting   at .                            ....  1 23 

Robinson,    [no.  M    198.   178,  241 

2b  ' 


402  I?2dex. 

Rogers,  Rev.  Ebenezer 31 

Rogers,  A.    E 289 

Rothwell,  Dr.  W.  R 149 

Ridgelj,  Rev.  P.  R 68 

Richland  Church,  Meeting  at 69 

Riggs,  Milford ' 290 

s 

Sawyer,  E.  H 172 

Sanitarium,  Baptist 284 

Scott,  Rev.  Kemp 64 

Second  Decade  of  Progress 76 

Second  Meeting 44 

Sebree,  Urial 82 

Secretaries,  Recording 377-380 

Secretaries,  Corresponding 382-384 

Sebree,  John 82 

Sedalia,  Meeting  at 155 

Senter,  Wm.  M 109 

Sample,  Mrs.  R.  B. 361 

Semicentennial 185 

Sermon,  Introductory    39^-392 

Skillman,  Dr 288 

Simmons,  W.  A 290 

Sherwood,  Dr.  Adiel 146,   2oq 

Sherwood,  Hon.  Thos    205 

Smith,  N.  J.,  S.  S.  Secretary 265 

Southwest  Baptist  College. 356 

Southern  Baptist  Convention 79,  317-320 

Springfield 288 

Squatter's  Sovereignty 112 

Stephens,  T.  P 47,   104 

Stephens,  Jas.  L      .    .  . 353 

Stephens,  E.  W 150 

Stephens  College 352 

Sunday  School  Work 255,   261 

Sunday  School,  Committee  on,  1859 261 

Sunday  School,  Committee  on,  1865 261 

Sunday  School,  G.  W.  Hyde's  Report,    1866 261 

Sunday  School,  G.  W.  Rogers'  Report,  1867 262 

Sunday  School  Convention  Organized,  1868 262 

Sunday  School  Auxiliary  Convention      263 

Sunday  School  Board  of  General   Association 264 


I  mi  ex.  fo;^ 

Sundav  School  Missionary  Secretary 264 

Sunday  School  Missionary -64 

St.  Charles,  Settlement  of 10 

St.  Joseph 285 

St.  Genevieve 10 

St.  Louis,  Third  Church    284 

St.  Louis,  Meeting  1870 ' I47 

St.  Louis  Missions 283 

Suggett,  Rev.  James 65 

Summary  of  First  Decade 75 

Suniniar\-,  .\  Convenient 374 


Tables  of  Finance  (1875) 156-157 

raylor,  S.   F 328,353 

Taylor,  B.  T 153 

Taylor,  W.  C.    ...        •    282 

Teasdale,  John  283 

Thomas,  R.  S 35-37 

Thomas,  Dr.  W.  H 141 

The  Record 306 

The  Central  Baptist 307 

Trimble,  G.  W 152 

Trials  and  Triumphs 97 

Truex,  CM 290 

Truex,  H.  E 290 

Treasurer's  Report,   1878 163-164 

Tutt,  B.  G.,  Response  to  Address  of  Welcome 190 

Tutt,  B.  G .183 

Treasurers 384-385 

Turner,  R.  F    285 

lutt,  B.  G.. 328 

u 

Union  Hill,  Meeting  at 94 

Unitication ,314,  321,  327 

V 

N'indication,    A iSi 

Vardeman,  J.  B    38,   195 

N'^ardeman,  Rev.  Jeremiah 3'l-36 

Virginia    Baptists,  and  First  .\mendment  to  United  States 

Constitution 18-20 


404  Index. 

W 

Wallace,  H.  C 191 

Walnut  Grove  Church,  Boone 80 

Washington,  President  and  Baptists 18-20 

War  Circular 120 

War,  Civil      iii 

War,  Kansas 111-113 

Watchman  Fund. 85 

Welch,  J.  E 27 

West,  T.  L,,  Corresponding  Secretary 219 

Whiting,  Chas 141 

Wilhite,  Rev.  Fielding 31,     67 

Wilhite,  Stephen 59 

Wilhite,  R.  S 59 

Wilhite,  Hon.  W.  R 59»i7o 

Williite,  J.   Sampson.. 59 

Western  Recorder    296 

Western  Watchman    300-302 

Word  and  Way. 313 

Wheeler,  Mrs.  G.  B 367 

Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 
Will 


iam  Jewell  College 81,  89,  335 

iam  Jewell  College  Charter    336-^338 

iams,  Mrs.  Mildred 3^-41-43 

iams.  Prof.  W.  H 42 

iams.  Dr.  W.  Harrison 43,  194,  309 

iams,  Dr.  A.  P 70,    143 

iams'  Resolution  on  Corresponding  Secretary 239 

iams,  Mrs.  Dr.  W.  H 310 

Woods,  Rev.  Anderson -Si,  57,  60,   237 

Woods,  Adam  C    252 

Woods,  Adam  C,  Fund 251 

Wornall,  Hon.  J.   B 151 

Wornall,  Mrs.  J.  B 365 

Wornall  Hall 152 

Woman's  Work .  .    .    357 

Wright,  Leland 73,  227 

Wright,  Wm 50 


Yancy,  A.  K 268 

Young,  Miss  Emma 363 


1    1012  00035  506" 


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